Tomas Cerny has enjoyed another impressive campaign in Partick Thistle’s goal this term, but he has revealed that he feared his season was over before it had barely started after an injury scare.

Cerny was out for almost three months after aggravating a foot problem in a home game against St Johnstone, but it could have been worse had he required an operation, which seemed a very real possibility at one stage.

Thankfully, surgery wasn’t needed after all, and the Czech keeper made his comeback in December, a period which correlated with Thistle’s defensive record improving considerably.

That was no coincidence, with the assured displays of the 32-year-old contributing to nine clean sheets for the Jags since the tail end of last year, and landing him a nomination for the McCrea Financial Services player of the year award.

“It’s been a very good season, especially considering the injury I had,” Cerny said.

“Luckily enough I didn’t miss that many games, it could have been much worse. I was worried at one stage that my season might be over.

“It all hinged on me having to have an operation, and if that had been the case, then I might not have played again this season.

“Initially we thought that I might have to sit out for a really long period, so to only miss eight games was a big relief. I’ve managed to get over 30 games again and for the most part I think it has gone well.

“It’s strange to think that what might have been one of the worst seasons of my career has ended up being one of the best, with the team obviously doing so well and making our target of the top six.

“I feel really lucky, and hopefully I’ve been able to help the team.”

Cerny’s goalkeeping ability has no doubt contributed to Thistle’s fine season, but it is perhaps his mere presence that has helped to settle the defence in front of him.

Three other keepers have played for the Jags at different points this season, with regular back-up Ryan Scully also picking up an unfortunate shoulder injury which looks to have ended his own season.

Having the steadying and calming influence of Cerny back behind the defensive unit though seems to have made the difference.

“It’s obviously great to have been a part of so many good defensive performances this year,” he said.

“I think that our success has been built upon that solid foundation, and we have been able to get the goals at the other end so that the clean sheets really count.

“The whole team deserve credit for the record we have had, particularly since about Christmas time when we really started to tighten things up.

“I think it helps that we’ve had a settled backline for the most part. Sometimes the manager has gone with a back three or a back four, but mostly it has been the same personnel in front of me and I think that having that relationship and that understanding with your defence is key.

“We have to be really pleased with how things have gone so far, but it’s not like we are ready to go on holiday just because we have made the top six.”

Cerny says that Thistle are determined to prove that point with a win over fifth-placed Hearts at Tyncecastle today, after a disappointing performance against Rangers at Ibrox last time out.

“The second-half performance at Tynecastle the last time we were there was a key moment in our season,” he said.

“It gave us so much confidence because we played so well and should have won the game.

“Since then, we seem to have had more belief in ourselves, and we feel like we can go anywhere and compete.

“I think we need to win this game if we are to have any chance of coming fifth, so it is a really important match.”