Mustapha Dumbuya knows all about the Achilles having spent seven months on the sidelines nursing that particular injury.

Now, the recuperating 29-year-old is hoping to get back to full fitness and help Partick Thistle overcome their own Achilles Heel next season.

Over the last couple of years, the Jags have been notoriously slow starters and have found themselves at the wrong end of the table in the first half of the season only to mount a second half recovery.

Dumbuya was a helpless observer as Thistle toiled again in the first few months of the 2016/2017 but his rehabilitation was given a lift as Alan Archibald’s men enjoyed a renaissance to grab a top-six finish.

Dumbuya, who returned to the Thistle squad for the 2-1 defeat to Rangers at the weekend after another couple of weeks out, is already looking to next season.

And the Sierra Leone right-back reckons the Jags can have an ever better campaign if they manage to get off on the right foot.

He said: “It’s never nice being in a team that’s rock bottom in the league and even worse when you’re injured. That urges you on to get back to full fitness and get back to help out.

“The last couple of years, we’ve started slowly but have managed to have a decent finish. Next season we need to start quickly and get the points on the board. The gaffer has to put his finger on why we have these bad starts. If we can start strongly you never know where we could end up next season. We need to be ambitious and aim for the top-six every season.

“We’ve got good foundations. Whoever the gaffer brings in in the summer is only going to make us better. That would be a bonus.”

Dumbuya’s slow recovery process continues and while he’s champing at the bit to get back into action, he knows he has to remain patient.

He added: “It’s not an overnight thing and it’s all about managing the injury. It’s difficult, though. As a footballer you just want to be playing week in wee out. You’re only one injury away from the career being over so you have to stay tough and get over the hurdle and hope you get back in the team."