Thistle understudy Scully grabs his chance with view to new deal
LIFE as a second-choice goalkeeper can be a frustrating experience, with week after week of training going unrewarded on a Saturday as you kick your heels on the bench.
Partick Thistle’s Ryan Scully knows only too well the realities of such a footballing existence, and that’s why he is determined to grab his chance in the first-team with both hands.
An injury to regular No.1 Tomas Cerny opened the door for his understudy in the last two games, and Scully was particularly impressive in last weekend’s match against Dundee despite the defeat for his side.
He is hoping that another good performance against Inverness today can help the Firhill outfit to the win that would mathematically secure their Premiership status, and help convince manager Alan Archibald of his credentials for the No.1 spot. “Tomas is the No.1 just now and he’s done well, so I can’t really complain,” he said. “But hopefully I can do myself justice for the rest of the season and then see where pre-season takes us.
“I’ve been here quite a long time, obviously sitting on the bench. But I need to look at examples like Stuart [Bannigan] coming in and once you’re in there, especially as a keeper, try to cement your place.
“Tomas comes in before the games and wishes me good luck and helps me in training. He’s got experience in the game and you take bits from that to help yourself, but it’s your game and you need to concentrate on yourself.
“Obviously I’m ambitious as a player and want to be playing regularly at this level, so to get the next few games under my belt and hopefully see out the season, that’ll kick me on for next season.
“It was a great experience to come in and play in the top-flight, which every player wants to do.”
Scully’s contract is up at the end of the season, so his run in the first-team has arrived at an opportune moment.
“It helps as there is only so much you can do in training but to get the next few games will help my chances of getting something. I’ll leave that up to my agent and concentrate on playing.”
The goalkeeper is determined to help Thistle end their season on a high, as the club looks to continue its ascent in the league.
“When I started, we were more or less a mid-table Championship club and it’s easy to forget that now we’re in the Premiership,” he said.
“Fans want to see progression but we’re in the Premiership and we’ve established ourselves but we’re ambitious and we want to be in the top six. We were so close, we were a point away from getting it this season.
“We can’t be too down-heartened and we need take it as a positive and look at the progression we’ve made and take that on for next year.”