ABDUL OSMAN hopes helping Partick Thistle to Premiership safety will move him closer to landing a new deal at Firhill.

The midfielder is out of contract at the end of the season, but discussions have already begun over an extension to keep him at the club.

Victory over St Mirren this afternoon will secure the Jags' place in the top flight for a third successive season and allow boss Alan Archibald to start planning for the new campaign.

Osman is just one of a host of Firhill stars who is free to leave in a couple of weeks, but the 28-year-old is eager to extend his stay after settling into life in red and yellow.

He said: "My contract is up in the summer and we've had a few talks. It's ongoing, so I'll just wait to see what happens. Of course I'd be happy to stay here. It's been a good year, I've enjoyed it, there are good lads. Everything has been perfect.

"The earlier I can get things sorted out the better. The club are doing the right thing in waiting to see where the future lies. I'm happy to wait, though, I've got no problems with that.

"It's in our own hands, so we'll try to play like we did against Ross County and hopefully get a result.

"Coming here has gone better than I thought it would. I left Scotland ages ago and, coming back, everything has changed.

"With the style of play, I feel like I've come to the right club. We try to play football and, from now on, the pitches should be better and I think you'll see more of us and we'll play better football."

Osman has been one of Thistle's most impressive and consistent performers this season after joining the Jags last summer.

The Ghanaian previously spent a year in Scotland with Gretna before having spells at Northampton and Crewe either side of a campaign with Greek side Kerkyra

The Premiership has had an unusual look to it this season with Rangers, Hearts and Hibs all playing outside the top flight, but Osman has enjoyed his return north of the border.

He said: "When I was here the last time all the bigger teams were in the league. It was more challenging, but this year has still been good. There are a lot of good, young teams. It has been enjoyable.

"To be fair, I never thought [I would play in a league without Rangers, Hearts and Hibernian]. In football, things happen though. I just wondered what had happened.

"When you think about Rangers you think of them as a massive club, so when I arrived and saw what had happened I was like 'wow'.

"Next year will be more challenging. As soon as you get the bigger teams up, the better the league will be.

"I'd like to stay and challenge myself against those teams. You need to test yourself and try to get better every year."

If Thistle can continue their impressive recent run with another win this afternoon, it will guarantee them their place among our top 12 teams next term.

Defeat for St Mirren could send the Buddies down to the Championship, and Osman is eager to keep up the momentum after an impressive 2-1 win over Ross County last weekend.

He said: "We back ourselves against most teams and last Saturday proved we can do it. I think we worked hard and played much the better football.

"We'll expect them to try and express themselves, but we must stay positive and not be complacent. If we work as hard as we did last week, then we should get a result."