FORMER Hamilton midfielder Charlie Reilly will sign a one-year deal with Partick Thistle, Jags manager Ian McCall revealed in the aftermath of his side’s 2-2 draw with Ayr United.
The two teams played out an entertaining draw at Firhill on Wednesday afternoon, with Reilly coming off the bench for the last 20 minutes or so as a triallist in the pre-season friendly.
The 18-year-old midfielder had a few nice touches in his brief cameo in Maryhill, with McCall confirming after the final whistle that the central midfielder will shortly put pen to paper on a season-long contract with the League One club.
“I’m happy with the squad,” he said. “We’re signing young Charlie Reilly until the end of the season which I’m delighted about.
“He’s only 18 but I think he’s got a real chance.
“Since he’s come in, his attitude has been great. He looks like a terrific young footballer.
“He always seems to get a chance at goal. Listen, there’s a lot of development to be done – he’s only 18 – but he’ll come into the first-team squad and we’ll look to develop him over the next two or three years.”
McCall will doubtless be pleased with how his charges got on against their Championship opponents but there are one or two injury concerns for the Firhill boss.
Zak Rudden, signed from Rangers in January but a player who struggled with injury shortly after signing for Thistle, was absent once again yesterday afternoon while loan signing Declan Glass hobbled off injured with around 15 minutes to go.
McCall stressed that neither of the knocks picked up by his players should see them ruled out for too long, with Rudden expected to return for the group stages of the Betfred Cup.
“Zak hurt his ankle on the Friday before our first pre-season game,” McCall added. “He’s maybe going to be training in the next couple of days so it would be good to try and get him some game time.
“Whether he’ll make the St Mirren game [on Wednesday] I don’t know but I’d like to think I’ll have him in the squad.
“Declan is fine. I think it was just a knock, knee-on-knee. When he played in his preferred position I thought he did very well.”
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