Partick Thistle midfielder Stuart Bannigan is hoping Alan Archibald's summer recruitment drive will compensate for the loss of key players like Kallum Higginbotham, Conrad Balatoni and Stephen O'Donnell.

The Jags boss has brought in David Amoo, Gary Miller and Tomas Cerny, as well as securing Callum Booth on a permanent deal after a successful loan spell last season.

Bannigan said: "O'Donnell, Balatoni and Higginbotham were really important players for us, in the dressing room as well as on the pitch.

"They were all around the club for a long time and were a key part of the camaraderie the team had. They were big losses but football moves on. People don't stay at teams forever – it's part and parcel of the game.

"The new players who've come in have done very well. They've only been here for a couple of weeks and we've yet to see them in full flow, but from what I've seen so far, they've been excellent.

"We don't know how the season is going to pan out, given the changes of personnel. What we can do is try to perform to the highest level we can and try to excite the fans again.

"Last year was very good for everyone connected with Partick Thistle and the club is getting stronger and stronger in every department, from youth development to the way we are being marketed.

"We just need to keep moving in the right direction and if that means another season established in the top league, then so be it. I don't think we can move too far ahead."

One area where Thistle are certainly not short of competition is in midfield, where numbers have been boosted by the welcome return of club captain Sean Welsh.

Bannigan admitted that his immediate focus will be on securing a place in the team.

"The midfield area is getting quite congested now as there's a lot of competition for places in there," he said.

"We've got Gary Fraser, Abdul Osman and the young boys coming through like David Wilson and Jordan Leyden.

"We've also got Welshy coming back from a long spell out injured. It's great to see him fit again as he's a really good player for us.

"If he can get some time without injury, he'll be a cracking addition to the squad. We all have to make sure we're performing well to keep our places.

"You can take your fitness for granted and Sean has been extremely unlucky. I wish him well."