PARTICK's Kallum Higginbotham insists Thistle don't need to dive into the transfer market too early this summer - because he is proof big deals can be done later in the window.

Boss Alan Archibald has made just one addition to his squad so far after completing a move to bring former Hearts star Ryan Stevenson to Firhill, and remains on the lookout for another handful of new faces.

The Jags gaffer is determined to bide his time to ensure that any arrivals bring quality to his group and don't just add bodies to make up the numbers this season.

Higginbotham didn't sign on at Firhill until after the Premiership kick-off last term and he knows things can quickly change in the game as Archibald plots his next transfer moves.

He said: "I went back to Huddersfield and was told on the first day of pre-season I wasn't in the manager's plans.

"I started pre-season well and the gaffer said he was going to give me a chance and then halfway through he decided I wasn't in his plans again and I got the chance to come up here. Football changes day to day and this is how things are.

"I have got no regrets about coming here, I really enjoyed last season and I am hoping I can do even better this time out and start how I finished.

"All fans want signings straight away, that is their mentality. But you need to have faith in what the manager is trying to do and working on.

"He has brought in Stevenson, which is a great signing, and was so close to bringing Lyle Taylor back, which would have been a fantastic signing.

"He went elsewhere and the gaffer has got different options now.

"I am proof that you don't need to do it all on day one. Most clubs in England don't get their squads together for a while and that is when things can happen and more players become available. We will just have to wait and see who else comes in."

The capture of Stevenson last month was a coup for Archibald as he beat off competition from some of his top-flight counterparts to land the highly rated forward.

And Higginbotham is confident the former Tynecastle star can shine in red and yellow after making the move along the M8 this summer.

HE said: "He has shown that he is more than capable of changing games in the Premiership. He did it against us at Firhill last year and he was unplayable.

"I have seen him with the ball at his feet in training and you can see the quality he has got. I am hoping he can bring that into the games."

Higginbotham was one of Thistle's key men last term as Archibald's side retained their Premiership status and narrowly missed out on a seventh-place finish on their return to the top tier.

He netted nine goals in an impressive debut campaign at Firhill and the forward is determined to turn on the style once again this term.

Higgy said: "I want to improve on last season. I had a really good second half to the season and I don't want to be going backwards, I want to improve, and hopefully I can do that from the off.

"I have never set targets in my career and I won't start now. I know what I got last year and I want to better it and, if I get more goals and more assists, I can then look to go again."