PARTICK THISTLE midfielder Sean Welsh could return to action before the end of the season after stepping up his latest recovery from injury this week.
Welsh has endured an injury plagued couple of years since helping Thistle to the First Division title and has appeared just three times for Alan Archibald's side this term after suffering a succession of ailments. He was crocked on his latest comeback against Hamilton Accies in January but could be fit to play some part for the Jags in their final eight Premiership games.
"Sean has started jogging again this week but we are not going to rush him," Thistle assistant manager Scott Paterson said. "He's had a horrible time so we'll play it by ear. Hopefully he'll be back before the end of the season.
"People will tell him they now how he feels - but I do know how he feels. He'll become a stronger player for it. There will be off days but he's still been great about the dressing room. It happens in football. Some players breeze through their careers unscathed while others seem to get hit with injury after injury."
In Welsh's absence, Thistle have moved to the brink of securing their place in the Premiership next season thanks to consecutive home wins over St Johnstone and Inverness Caley Thistle. The Jags face second-placed Aberdeen this weekend before heading to Parkhead on Wednesday night and Paterson has refused to think his side are out of the relegation battle just yet.
"We've got two hard away games coming up with Aberdeen and Celtic," he said. "The confidence helps and the spirits are high. They have been made well aware of the fact, but there has been no talk of us being safe in the dressing room. Hopefully we can pick up as many points before the split to get us nearer to that stage."
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