Craig loan being repaid with interest for Jags

Mcnamara delight as experienced hitman makes instant impact

JACKIE McNAMARA hailed Firhill new boy Steven Craig as his debut double kept Partick Thistle top of the Irn-Bru First Division.

The Jags sustained their impressive start to the campaign by beating Hamilton Accies 4-0, with Sean Welsh and Steven Lawless also on the scoresheet as the hosts bounced back from their midweek Scottish Communities League Cup defeat to Billy Reid’s side.

Craig was a first-half replacement for the injured Kris Doolan at Firhill and turned in an eye-catching performance on his maiden appearance since making the switch from Ross County last week.

The striker follows in the footsteps of father Joe in pulling on the Thistle colours and McNamara was delighted with his latest acquisition’s display.

He said: “I think everyone can see the experience that Steven has, and he knows how to use his body to good effect.

“First and foremost, I’m delighted to have managed to bring him in.

“A lot of players have gone out on loan to various clubs in the last few days.

“In the main they have been younger players and we’ve been fortunate that we have managed to bring in a player with experience which has perhaps been lacking.

“I think Steven is going to prove to be a big asset for us and he will be able to use that experience and help other players.

“He was excellent when he came on for Kris Doolan. Even when the balls up to him weren’t great he was able to make the most of them. He’s a real handful and never stops.”

It may have been Thistle’s biggest win of the season so far, but McNamara admits some aspects of the performance could have been improved.

He said: “I think when you score four goals and don’t concede then you have to be satisfied. I feel though that we can play a lot better. At half-time I was happy to be 1-0 ahead.

“We didn’t pass the ball well in the first half. In fact, we played much better in the first half on Tuesday night but didn’t get the reward for that. Football is a bit like that at times.”

The only down sides for the Jags were injuries to Doolan and captain Alan Archibald and McNamara hopes to have his influential stars back in action sooner rather than later.

He said: “It’s nothing too serious with either of them. Kris’s injury is probably the one that is giving us the most concern and hopefully it is just a strain of his thigh rather than a tear and something more sinister.

“Archie just got a bang. It isn’t his knee which is good, just his hip.”