TOMMY STEWART hopes the end of the summer holidays will herald a fresh start to his Partick Thistle career.
The striker will report for duty on Monday as Jags boss Jackie McNamara puts his squad through their paces on the first day of action ahead of the new campaign.
Thistle will then head south to the Catterick Garrison of the 1st Battalion Scots Guards in Yorkshire to get fighting fit ahead of their first competitive game against Stenhousemuir in the Ramsdens Cup next month.
Stewart moved to Firhill in April in a bid to win himself a long-term deal with the Jags after being recommended to former boss Ian McCall by McNamara.
Having left Shamrock Rovers at the end of the Irish League season, the 24-year-old was short of match sharpness but still impressed in attack.
He has agreed a one-year deal to work under McNamara next season and hopes to reap the rewards of a pre-season work-out.
"I have just been ticking over to ease myself back into it again," he said. I have been doing quite a lot of outdoor work. It is just to try and stay a step ahead. Once you are in that environment you get to know the lads even better.
"Everybody will be working hard towards getting themselves ready for the season.
"I don't think you have to put players through a lot of running these days. With the short amount of time you are off during the summer, you don't have to overdo it with the running.
"You have to have that endurance factor in it but the more work you can do with the ball the better.
"I haven't been to an army camp for pre-season before. It will be nice to get away and, hopefully, we can put in a few good days work and we will feel the benefit of it."
Stewart was twice on the scoresheet in his brief appearances for Thistle last season, netting in the Jags' 3-2 defeat at Dens Park before scoring his maiden Firhill goal on the final day of the campaign against Raith Rovers.
He will join top scorer Kris Doolan, Martin Grehan and young stars Shaun Fraser and Kieran Burns in the hunt for a starting jersey next season as McNamara takes to the dugout for his first full season in charge.
Stewart was a team-mate of McNamara during his time with Wolves and is aiming to his the ground running and impress the new Jags boss.
He said: "Towards the end of the season when I joined the club, I wasn't up to full speed fitness wise.
"Hopefully I can get a good pre-season behind me, get myself well conditioned and get ready for the new season ahead.
"I want to make an immediate impact at Thistle. I have been given the chance to play here under Jackie and it is one I am looking forward to.
"I want to do well for him and the club. Hopefully I can have a good pre-season and get myself in the team and score some goals."