Partick Thistle striker Kris Doolan has urged former teammate Stuart Bannigan to re-join the club, claiming it would be a massive boost to have the midfielder back in the red and yellow.

Bannigan looked set to be plying his trade elsewhere with his contract expiring in the summer and the player himself indicating that he would like a new challenge.

After sustaining a serious knee injury in March that ended his season though, Thistle made him a new offer to stay.

Read more: Thistle keeper Cerny delighted for McGovern, but wishes it was him in Euros spotlight

Despite that, it looked as though the player would still move on, but sources at the club have confirmed that a deal to have Bannigan back at the Jags next season may be back on.Glasgow Times: CRUNCH TIME: Stuart Bannigan has been urged to make up his mind on a new deal at Partick Thistle

If that happens, then Doolan would be over the moon to have his friend back alongside him in the Thistle line-up.

“If Stuart was to re-sign it would be like a new player coming in because we all obviously thought that he would be away,” Doolan said.

“It would be a massive signing for the club and I’m as hopeful as everyone else that he’ll be back because he’s a terrific player and a great lad as well.

“He was a massive loss when he was injured last season because he is a big part of our team. He was integral to our engine room and there were times when he would be running the game for us. He was a big miss.

“If we can get him fit and playing well again then we’ll be absolutely delighted.”

Doolan is excited about what the new season could hold for Thistle, after they managed to keep a hold of important players like Tomas Cerny, Abdul Osman and Stevie Lawless.Glasgow Times: Partick Thistle's Kris Doolan give the fans a thumbs up

He has also been impressed by the calibre of the new additions that manager Alan Archibald has made to the squad as they kicked off their pre-season preparations last week.

“That’s the first week done and it’s been a good, tough week,” he said. “We’ve done a lot of quality work and had a few double sessions as well.

“We had a bounce game on Saturday and that was good to get back playing as quickly as possible.

“It’s always nice to see the boys again and meet some new faces and welcome them into the squad.

“The new signings have done well from what I’ve seen so far, and it looks as though we’ve managed to sign some good players.

“We all know about Danny Devine with him having played in the Premiership for a few years, and David Syme looks really solid, so we’re all happy with the new boys that have come in.

“We’re really happy to have Chris Erskine back, not only myself because we link up so well, but for the team and the club I think it’s a massive signing for us.

“I’m delighted to see him back and I think the fans are right to be looking forward to it because hopefully between the two of us we’ll create and put away a lot of goals next season.

“Ade Azeez will meet up with us in England this week and I’ve always welcomed competition because I think it makes the club and the team a lot stronger, and that’s what I’m all about. I always want us to get better and improve.”

Doolan has set his sights on maintaining his remarkable run of hitting ten goals or more in each of the last six seasons, and hopes that he can also close in on his aim of reaching a century of goals for the Jags.

He said: “That’s six season in a row I’ve been well into double figures, and I’m looking to make that seven.

“I’m closing in on the 100 goal mark as well, so these are all targets that I’ve got in mind, and if I’m scoring goals then hopefully the club is doing well."