Liam Lindsay is 100% focused on Partick Thistle, despite speculation linking the young defender with a move to English Championship side Leeds United.

The 21-year-old has been a standout performer for the Jags this season, and is even the joint-top scorer for the club in the league with five goals to his name, the same as striker Kris Doolan.

As young as he may be though, Lindsay has handled the transfer gossip surrounding him with a maturity beyond his years, and he has vowed not to let it affect his performances on the field for Thistle.

“It’s nice to be linked with big clubs at the high end of the Championship and it’s nice to be recognised, it can only help my confidence,” Lindsay said.

“Nothing is concrete though, so I’m 100% focused on Partick Thistle just now and I will be until something concrete happens or an offer is made or whatever.

“My only concern at the moment is helping the club carry on this good run we’ve been on and hopefully we can pick up some more points when we start back.

“I am definitely ambitious and of course you want to play at the highest level that you can to see how you cope with it to test yourself. I’m no different.

“Thistle have been great with me, especially the gaffer who put me in at a very young age and stuck with me no matter what. I’ve made a few mistakes and emerged from it stronger and that’s all down to him.

“I think the goals have probably helped as well to be honest, but it’s definitely a confidence-booster to be linked with big clubs.

“All I want to do is keep playing though and whatever happens, happens.”

Lindsay joined up with the rest of the Thistle squad at their La Manga training base on Tuesday, after staying behind in Glasgow for an extra day to be fitted for a protective mask for his broken nose.

And while he acknowledged that the injury is still painful, it pales into comparison with the stick he is taking from his teammates after training in the mask after his arrival.

“My nose is fine, it’s healing,” he said. “I’ve got a mask for it now and I’m able to train, so it’s not too bad.

“From the minute I put the mask on I’ve been getting pelters from the boys mind you, but I just have to take it.

“You see central defenders picking up injuries like that all the time, strikers like to use their elbows and stuff so it was going to come one day and I’m sure it will happen again. But I 100% want to avoid ending up with a nose like Steve Bruce or something, I’ll have to protect myself a bit more in future!”

Lindsay is relishing the chance to show his leadership skills after growing into his role at centre-half, learning from his mistakes and emerging stronger for the experience.

“We started the season with me and Danny Devine and he is young too as well as being new to the club, so I felt like I needed to really step up and be a leader and I feel like I am,” he said.

“Hopefully I am, and hopefully the gaffer sees it that way too. It’s building my confidence and I feel comfortable being a leader back there now.

“The amount of games I’ve played has been so helpful, especially when I've made the odd mistake and the gaffer stuck with me. That lets me know he’s got trust in me and it makes you want to bounce back for him as well as yourself.

“It’s all experience for me, and for my position, you take all the experience you can get.”