CHRIS DUGGAN hopes this will be his year as he bids to make a Partick Thistle breakthrough this season.

The striker shone for the Jags' Under-20 side last term after making the move from Hamilton Accies in the summer but injury brought a temporary halt to his fine goalscoring form.

After returning to fitness, he left Firhill to join former Jags gaffer Dick Campbell at Forfar, where he made six appearances - including a start in the Loons' defeat to Rangers at Ibrox - and scored one goal.

Duggan was one of a number of Thistle kids boss Alan Archibald took with his first team pool on their recent trip to Spain and he was handed another run out in the 1-1 draw against Dumbarton.

Last season's top scorer, Kris Doolan, is the only senior recognised striker on the Firhill books at present and Duggan is determined to impress as he waits for his chance to shine in the top tier.

He said: "It has been good and enjoyable so far in pre-season. I have played in a couple of games and did okay. I enjoyed the trip to Spain with the boys.

"I am taking it one day at a time and just looking to do well. I was hoping I would get to be with the first team right from the off and it was nice to get away for a week with the squad to be able to gel with them.

"Hopefully, this can be my breakthrough year. At the end of the day, it is all down to me and how I perform.

"I am looking to push on from last year. It was a great season for me but it is over with and I am looking forward to this season and hopefully I can impress the manager and get myself in the team."

Having missed out on a deal to bring Lyle Taylor back to Firhill, Archibald remains in the market for another striker as he looks to bolster his Jags ranks ahead of the new campaign.

Any new arrivals could push Duggan back down the pecking order and the former Queen's Park kid knows he needs to be playing at the highest level possible to enhance his game again.

He said: "There are always going to be other players looking to come into the team, especially when you are with an established Premiership team.

"There will always be someone else sniffing around but that can only be a good thing.

"It is something you have to rise to, you can't fear that challenge. For anyone to reach their potential, they need someone there pushing them all the time.

"Competition is healthy and that is what we want in the squad.

"I will wait and see what happens but the main positive for me would be playing first team football.

"I need to be somewhere, getting games and playing with established players in a first team environment."

Meanwhile, Thistle's home clash with St Mirren will now be played on Friday, September 19 with a 7.45pm kick-off and will be live on BT Sport.