Ryan Edwards has already toasted Australia Day this month. Yesterday, Partick Thistle’s wizard of Oz was raising a toast to Archie’s Anniversary.

It was January 30, 2013 when Alan Archibald was handed the reins at Firhill and, five years on, the Jags gaffer is still going strong.

There have been ups, downs, toils and troubles but Archibald’s quiet diligence has maintained Thistle’s place in the top flight of the Scottish game having guided them to promotion at the end of that 2013 campaign.

Edwards, meanwhile, signed on in Maryhill in 2015 and has become a key weapon in the Thistle armoury. Having been released by Reading prior to making the move to Glasgow, the 24-year-old will forever be indebted to Archibald for helping him kick-start his career.

Edwards said: “It’s amazing first and foremost to reach five years at a club for a player but even more so as a manager these days. It’s great for him and the club.

“The club has shown that belief and loyalty in him and it’s paid off. He’s been amazing for me personally. He gave me a chance to continue playing professional football at a time when I was struggling to find a club. He trusts you to go out and play. He creates a positive environment and that gives you confidence. Every day you come in, you want to be there and work for each other. “He’s been a massive influence on me. At a young age trying to break into a first team squad is tough. I got to that stage and have played the majority of games since I’ve been here. I owe him a lot because of what he’s done for me.”

Edwards was on the mark for Thistle at the weekend as his surging run and goal put the tin lid on a fine 3-1 win at St Johnstone which gave the Jags a first away win of the season. Next up is a trip to Motherwell this weekend and Edwards is keen to keep the momentum going and end Thistle’s barren run at Fir Park. They haven’t won at Motherwell's ground since January 1996.

He added: “After getting that first away win, we need to keep that going now. Motherwell seem to be our bogey team. We just can’t seem to win there. But hopefully that changes this week. It’s a huge game. There are only five points between us and them and they are sixth. That’s the nature of this league. A win there will keep us right in the pack.

“Last year during our push to the top six we improved both our home and away form. Our home form has been decent this year and if we can improve things on the road then things can start moving in the right direction. The good thing about being here is that morale has never been low. We are a good confident group and I’m sure that will get us out of the position we are in. Even just seeing some of the injured players coming back into training has given us a lift. They hadn’t necessarily played but just having them back in there again is big for everybody and it lifts the environment and the team. We have a good squad with real depth.”

The World Cup with Australia this summer may be something of a distant dream but the uncapped Edwards knows you have to set your targets high in this game.

He said: “Getting that first cap remains a goal. There is so much competition there in midfield but I’ll try to keep knocking on the door. I’ll be in Russia regardless, as either a player or a fan.”