PARTICK THISTLE have suffered a huge injury blow after midfielder Gary Fraser was ruled out of action for up to 12 weeks.

The 20-year-old has been an ever-present for Alan Archibald's side so far this season and has scored twice in the opening four SPFL Premiership fixtures.

But he is now set for a long spell on the sidelines after fracturing his knee.

Fraser's loss is a hammer blow to boss Alan Archibald, who could now look to bring in another midfield player to bolster his squad.

Archibald said: "Gary is going to be out for between six and 12 weeks.

"He has done his knee. He had a problem and went in for a look at it and they found out he has got a fracture.

"It is not on the kneecap, but there is a fracture there.

"It is a sore one. He has started really well and is one of our best players so it is very disappointing.

"We only found out the day after the window closed so the timing couldn't have been any worse.

"I think he has been playing with it. We don't actually know when he got the injury.

"He felt it after the first game of the season but he had been training fine and trained the rest of the week.

"He played against Aberdeen and trained on Monday morning.

He was booked in to go and see the specialist anyway but he trained that morning and felt it.

"We didn't know, we weren't aware of it. He played the full 90 minutes so we had no reason to think it was anything serious."

Thistle return to Premiership action after the international break with the visit of top-of-the-table Inverness Caley Thistle this weekend.

Archibald signed defender Jake Carroll and forward Nathan Eccleston prior to the window closing last week.

And the Firhill boss admits the domestic hiatus has allowed his new recruits to settle in as attentions turn to the Caley clash tomorrow.

He said: "That is probably the best thing about the break for us.

"We brought Jake in just before the Aberdeen game and we brought Nathan in as well so it has given them time to settle in.

"It is a long two weeks when you have lost your last game before the international break, but that is the benefit.

"Nathan has got a slight knock, but Jake will be in contention.

"He came in against Aberdeen and did really well."

Having suffered back-to-back defeats to Hamilton Accies and Aberdeen, Thistle head into the meeting with John Hughes' side eager to get back on track.

Top-of-the-table Inverness are unbeaten in their five Premiership fixtures so far.

And Archibald is impressed with the free- flowing Highland outfit.

He said: "I have watched them and they have turned round the way they have played. It is definitely a John Hughes side now.

"I watched them against Kilmarnock and they are playing good football and are top of the league on merit.

"He has done ever so well and they got to the League Cup final last year.

"You could see last year there were signs they were changing a bit in terms of the way they played.

"I know it is the same players but he has got them playing good football and they are very resolute, they haven't lost a goal. They have been outstanding."