WITH three summer signings already chalked up, Alan Archibald might be assumed by some Partick Thistle fans to have done the hard graft, but the manager has not yet relented in his mission to bolster the Firhill squad with quality additions.

Archibald, indeed, is far from nearing the end of his recruitment drive, insisting that he is prepared to play the waiting game in order to bring the right players north of the border, after bolstering his squad with the addition of Danny Seaborne.

The former Coventry and Southampton defender signed a two-year-deal with Partick two days before their season-opener against Ross County, but Archibald wants to add at least another two new faces before the end of the month, suggesting that another raid on the English lower leagues may be in the offing.

"We definitely need another couple in. We are short in a few areas and it's something we are working on all the time," said Archibald. "We probably need one more for the striker area and at full-back. We are in talks with a number of players.

"You bide your time, you have a list of targets. As a manager, you want to get your business done as early as you can as it gives you the whole summer to work with them. But you also want to wait for that wee bit of quality.

"You know, come the start of the Championship down the road, the English teams have assessed their squads and there are maybe players available."

James McFadden is not on that wanted list despite having trained with the squad, Archibald insisted, but he was more forthcoming when asked about Seaborne's suitability. "He comes with a lot of experience. Dan is a very good player. He is left-sided and he's got a bit of presence about him, something we were keen to get in," said Archibald.

"He can play in either of two positions and we primarily see him as a centre-half but he can play at left-back as well. He gives us a number of options."

Archibald is desperate for Partick's Scottish Premiership campaign to get under way after the postponement of their supposed curtain-raiser against Celtic. "We are raring to go," he said. "It's been disappointing but it has given us a chance to go and have a look at the other sides round about us and we will be ready.

"I went to see Ross County on Sunday and they have made a number of changes again. They do it every season but the players looked as though they have moulded well.

"It will be a very tough challenge, they have a physical aspect but they also like to knock the ball about. We are at home and, after the horrible run we had last year at home, we want to get a win as quickly as possible and build on it."

Richard Brittain admits a rapid return to league action is a blessing for County after Sunday's defeat by St Johnstone.

The Highlanders' captain drew great encouragement from the opening-day performance but knows a defeat is a defeat and is itching to bounce back quickly.

Against a Saints side already four competitive games to the good, the Dingwall team did not look like one trying to assimilate 10 new signings, including five starters.

Brittain feels their attacking set is now as strong as it has been in his six years at the club. He said: "There was a lot to be positive about. We looked a major attacking threat. Given the players we've got at the club now the threat up front is as strong as it's ever been. I thought we looked very dangerous going forward and I thought the combinations we showed in midfield, and the amount of possession we had, was very positive.

"These are all things we've been working hard on in pre-season and, hopefully, we can carry them on in the games ahead.

"We want to score more goals - that's ultimately the main aim because if you don't score goals you don't win games. But the attacking threat is as strong as it's ever been and every one of our strikers scored in pre-season, as did pretty much all of our midfielders.

"We all want to get in on the act, but we all share the same aim of wanting to win games. Hopefully we can do that in the games coming up."