SCOTT FOX hopes he will be fit to challenge for the Partick Thistle gloves once again this weekend after recovering from a thigh injury.

The keeper returned to the Jags starting line-up for the visit of Celtic a fortnight ago and kept his place in the team for the trip to Dens Park a couple of days later.

His stint in the side was to prove a short-lived one, however, with a muscle injury forcing him off at half-time against the Dees.

But, after missing out against Ross County on Saturday as Paul Gallacher lined up between the sticks, Fox is eager to get back on the park as quickly as possible.

He said: "I am back training, but I still have a slight problem kicking the ball. I will see how I am later in the week and take it from there. I was lucky that I came off when I did. I think it was ready to go.

"If I hadn't come off, it could have been a lot worse. I was taken off as a precaution. I missed the game on Saturday but hopefully I will be back this weekend.

"I felt it in the first five minutes. I hadn't played for a while before the Celtic game and I did a lot of kicking. I didn't have a lot of time to recover for the Dundee game.

"I have been unlucky this season. I was pleased with how I played against Celtic and I did well at Dundee before I came off. It has been a stop- start season for me, but hopefully I can get back in the team and help the boys up the table."

It has been a frustrating campaign all round for Fox as injury and the form of Gallacher have kept him sidelined for much of the season.

Alan Archibald's side have struggled in recent weeks as they have slid towards the Premiership relegation zone.

And Fox is determined to play his part in their recovery as the Jags look to finish with a flourish and stave off any fears of a battle to beat the drop.

He said: "Gall has come in and done well, but unfortunately we aren't getting the results just now. It is hard to take when you are injured, but that is football and the job I am in. I wouldn't change it.

"I need to take the good with the bad, try and get as fit as possible and try and get back in the team. I have been working hard in training and waiting for my chance again. I got it against Celtic and I felt I did okay. I was looking to build on it, but I have had another setback."

After slumping to a 3-1 defeat to County at the weekend, Thistle are just seven points clear of the Staggies, St Mirren and Motherwell at the foot of the table.

And Fox knows there is plenty at stake for the club as they bid to secure their top-flight place as quickly as possible.

He said: "I want to get back in and help the team get results. We are all in it together and we need to stick together.

"If I sign here for next season, I want to be playing in the Premiership. It is still early and we don't know where we are going to be, so you can't make deals just now.

"Hopefully we can get a couple of results to ensure safety, and then we can start talking. It is an incentive for the squad. We are playing for our careers and our living, so we need to start winning again."