Sean Welsh believes he can banish his injury hell and win himself a permanent deal with Partick.

The 25-year-old midfielder has barely kicked a ball in the last 21 months after enduring a horror run of fitness woe since November 2013.

Boss Alan Archibald is a massive admirer of the player he picked as his captain when the Jags returned to the top flight two summers ago.

But because Welsh has played only 16 times in the last two seasons, Jags were unable to commit to a proper contract extension when his deal expired at the end of last season.

Instead, the former Hibs kid has been signed until the end of August and he must use that time to prove he's put his struggles behind him.

After making his first appearance since January in Tuesday's friendly win over English Conference side Eastleigh, Welsh is confident he will be back patrolling Thistle's midfield this season.

He said: "After all the problems I've had, it's good to be back in amongst it from day one of pre-season. Everything's gone well so far. I feel in reasonably good shape - I just need match sharpness now, so the more friendlies I get the better.

"We'll review the contract situation in August and see where I'm at, so there's extra pressure to make sure this pre-season is a good one.

"I've got to prove to everyone - myself included - that I can stay fit and shake off the bad luck. I'm confident things will work out - I've had a good pre-season so far.

"The gaffer has been great - he's stood by me and I need to prove he was right to put his faith in me and that I'm ready to go for the season."

Welsh's injury problems began in late 2013 when a groin problem ruled him out for the best part of a year. Since then, his comeback bids have been dashed by bad knee and ankle injuries, with only three appearances to his name in total last term. Despite his lack of action, he insists he's no crock.

He insisted: "The injuries are not related - I've just been really unlucky. People always tar me with the injury-prone brush and say I'm a risk, but it's just bad luck.

"What can I do if I keep coming back on to the pitch and getting a bad one from a tackle? It can happen to anyone on the pitch. It's just been a run of bad luck. I'm past that now and I want to put it behind me."

Welsh, whose time at Hibs was also ravaged by injuries, admits the battle to salvage his career has been mental torture.

He said: "It's been hell. It's been a hard time for myself and my family. Sometimes you think it's just not meant to be, but I would never give up. I've got a strong mental attitude and I think I'll be even stronger after this.

"It's really challenging mentally. It's a real struggle when you have to go into training and you see the boys heading out with the ball and you're stick in the gym by yourself.

"You get setbacks along the way and you've just got to keep working away and hope that you get there.

"Thankfully there's light at the end of the tunnel now and I seem to be coming out the other side.

I've never doubted that I'd come back.

"I don't want people to feel sorry for me. Some people go through their careers without getting an injury and others get 20. I've had a career's worth of injuries already and I'm only 25. The main thing is that I've still got plenty time ahead of me to kick on."

To make matters worse, Welsh's dire run of luck came at a time when he was revelling in being handed the Thistle captaincy aged just 23.

He said: "I got the captaincy two years ago when we came back into the Premiership and it's basically been stop-start ever since.

"It was frustrating because I wanted to repay the faith of the gaffer for giving me that honour. I've just got to work on getting fit and back into the team now - the captaincy can wait."