CHRISTIE ELLIOT hopes the big freeze doesn't ruin his chances of match action ahead of his return to Partick Thistle later this month.

The striker has spent the last three weeks on the books of Irn-Bru Second Division side Albion Rovers but has turned out just once for the Cliftonhill club.

He was joined in Coatbridge by midfielder Brad Halsman, the duo following Mark McGuigan in making a temporary switch away from Firhill.

Rovers are due to travel to Stenhousemuir on Saturday before hosting Forfar next Tuesday night and Elliot is keen to play.

He said: "With the weather being the way it is, there have been a lot of games off across the country.

"I have managed to play one game, I set the goal up and I was happy with my play. I have been training with them and all the lads are great.

"I have got two more games there so hopefully I can get some game time and then come back to Thistle and try and get in the team.

"It would be nice if I could get a couple of goals but playing is the most important thing for me just now.

"Hopefully the game on Saturday is on. I have got the weekend and then the game next Tuesday before I am due to come back so hopefully they will both be on.

"You could tell as soon as Mark came back that he was a different player.

"He has always been great but you could see that his confidence was through the roof.

"That came from his time with Rovers and it has given him a boost as he looks to make an impact here. Hopefully I can do the same and push for a place in the team."

With his chances at Firhill limited in the opening weeks of the season, the loan switch to Lanarkshire appeared to give Elliot the ideal chance to prove himself.

His deal expires on December 21 and the Englishman hopes he will get his Jags chance.

He said: "At the start of the season, I was in and out the team and it was hard to hold down a regular place.

"With the team win-ning as many games, it was hard for me to break through. It is frustrating, I just want to play.

"I haven't played as often as I would have liked for Albion Rovers but any game time I do get will give me a lift and a bit of confidence for when I am back playing for Thistle.

"I can totally understand where the manager is when the team is winning.

"He isn't going to change it much and with the formation we play, there isn't going to be a lot of rotation when the guys are playing well and scoring goals.

"When you are only getting 10, 15 minutes in games, it is hard to make an impact but hopefully I can get another chance and it is up to me to make sure I take it.

"I need to prove myself to him. He has given me my chance here so I need to repay him."