CAMMY PLAYS IT PATIENTLY
THISTLE v MORTON
CAMMY SMITH took the sensible step to be a shortterm spectator to stop being a long-term casualty.
Only for the attacker to find himself on the sidelines regardless as Partick Thistle began their romp to the Championship summit in his absence.
But with the form Stevie Lawless and Co are in, with just one league defeat in seven, the 27-year-old isn’t cursing his luck.
He’s channelling any frustration into preparing to contribute his utmost to a marathon campaign Thistle have real belief they can be challenging in down the final straight.
Smith made his first start since July in the Jags’ SPFL Trust Trophy exit to Falkirk while the league was in cold storage.
The forward said: “I started the season really well, in the cup competition I played all four games and was in the team.
“I probably would like to think I’d have played the first game of the season as I was playing well.
“Then I had a little hernia and we just decided to get the operation done at the start of the season so I was back for the rest of the season instead of carrying it with me.
“So it’s been frustrating. But since then the boys in my position... Stevie especially has been brilliant, he’s probably been our best player. You can’t argue with that.
“I’m just focused on myself, training hard and trying to stay as fit as I can. I’m mentally in a good place. I had the other side done three years ago. I know if it carries on it can start to really bug you, so it was a case of get it done and miss three or four games.
“It’s just unfortunate that – in a good way obviously – the team has been doing really well since I’ve been out so it’s been hard to get back in.
“But there is still nine months of the season left. I’ll get in hopefully and it’s up to me to play well.”
Thistle face Morton in Maryhill today looking to stay top, having won five and drawn two of their matches at Firhill this term.
Smith, who joined the Jags a little over 14 months ago, said: “This season there is genuine belief we should be, not winning it but should be right up there.”
Ton are unbeaten in their last three meetings with the Jags and head into the game having had a free weekend following a cup defeat to Ayr last Thursday.
Boss Dougie Imrie said: “It was important we gave the boys some rest as they hadn’t had a weekend off since we came back for pre-season.
“We have a lot of tough games coming up starting with the Partick game, so it was important they came back in ready to go.”