THERE were a few nervous moments for Reece Cole as he waited for his Partick Thistle loan contract to be extended as the Brentford midfielder was certain there was nowhere else he would rather be.

The 21-year-old has been in good form and with his contract at Firhill expiring in the New Year, retaining the Englishman’s services was a priority for the club.

Now the paperwork has been done, Cole is determined to help Thistle push up the Championship standings and challenge for a spot in the play-offs.

“It’s been a long time coming but finally we have got it all sorted. I’m just looking forward to the rest of the season now,” Cole said.

“Moving to the top end of the country is quite difficult but the other boys welcomed me straight away. I feel like I’m playing my best football and I’m the fittest I’ve ever been. I’m just relishing the opportunity to play.

“There were a few other options but I’m playing games and enjoying it here and we are doing well. Things are looking up now. I knew I wanted to stay for a long time now so I’m glad to get it sorted.”

Cole’s loan extension may only have been confirmed on New Year’s Day but he was determined to stay at the club since scoring a late winner against Queen of the South at the start of December.

“That goal was probably the best moment I’ve had in a Thistle shirt but hopefully there will be more to come,” he said. “That was definitely up there. I’m hoping to get a few more in the next half of the season. As long as we’re winning games, that’s all that matters. If I’m scoring that’s a bonus.

“The new manager has come in and he has changed our style of play but kept it within the means of how we play as a team. I think we are working well under him and we’re getting points. We’re climbing the table and looking up.

“You can see with the boys [there has been a lift]. Everyone is enjoying their football, everyone is happy in training. The whole squad is happy which is the main thing.

“I’ve never had a manager like him before. You can have a bit of banter with him and a bit of a laugh and there are not many other managers you can do that with. But the line is still there – you can have a laugh but only so long as the work is getting done.”

Having spent most of his short career in England’s League Two, Cole had reservations about the quality of football in Scotland’s second tier. But after half a season in the Championship, Cole has found the English perception of Scottish football is wrong.

“The standard of training is much better,” Cole says. “Some of the players up here in the Championship are miles ahead of some of the boys in League Two. There’s the cliche of Scottish football which everyone talks about down south but it’s because they don’t know enough about it.

“When I first came up I thought the standard wasn’t going to be as good as what I was used to but after three or four months, I can easily say the standard is better here than League Two down south.”

With his Brentford contract expiring this summer, Cole is playing for a new deal. But it is a situation he is used to.

“I think you always feel like that,” he said. “Even when I was on loan at other clubs, you’re always playing to see where you are going to be next. I’ve enjoyed my time here so as long as I’m doing well and the team are doing well, that’s all I can worry about now. Then, when it comes to the summer I can see what my options are. I would consider [a permanent move to Thistle]. But it’s not up to me. It’s up to the club to decide if they want me.”