AARON TAYLOR-SINCLAIR insists Partick Thistle won't get caught up in the pre-match hype ahead of their Premiership bow against Dundee United on Friday.

The Jags kick-off their first top-flight campaign in nine years with a mouth-watering clash as former Firhill boss Jackie McNamara, coaches Simon Donnelly, Craig Hinchcliffe and Darren Jackson and title-winning stars Paul Paton and Chris Erskine return to Glasgow.

McNamara's exit from the club in February proved to be a controversial affair, with a bumper crowd expected as the action gets under way.

But defender Taylor-Sinclair is determined to keep his focus on the football on Friday night.

He said: "We'll take the confidence from winning the league last season and take that into the SPFL Premiership.

"It will be good to play on live television and see some old faces as well. Once the ref blows his whistle, there will be no friends and hopefully we can get a win to start with.

"Paul Paton, Chris Erskine, the old gaffer and Simon Donnelly will all be back. It will be good to see them but we'll be concentrating on the game.

"People say the fixtures are computerised but we doubted that when we saw who we were playing first.

"It obviously adds a little spice to the game and the atmosphere. We got a few good crowds last season and hopefully it will be another one on Friday."

While McNamara and his fellow former Jags will know what to expect on their return to Firhill this week, Alan Archibald's side will be an unknown quantity for most of their new top-flight opponents.

The Thistle boss added Mexican defender Gabriel Rojo de la Vega Piccolo to his squad immediately after the Jags' 0-0 draw with AEL Limassol on Saturday and Taylor-Sinclair can't wait to get down to business this term.

He said: "It might help that we are unknown. We are also a team with a few boys who were released from clubs in the SPL, who want to prove they have the quality for the top division. I'm one of them, so hopefully we'll do well.

"I don't think people will underestimate us as such, it's just that they won't know what they are coming up against.

"Hopefully, we can get a good start on Friday which can kick us on for the coming weeks.

"We know that defeats will come but we just have to knuckle down and keep going when that happens."

Former Rayo Vallecano youngster Gabriel was not the only new name on show in Thistle colours on Saturday, with their star left-back sporting a different moniker above his regular No.3 as the Jags rounded off their pre-season campaign.

Taylor-Sinclair said: "It's a bit of a personal matter. My stepdad is getting a divorce, so it's a bit of a family issue.

"My mum wanted Taylor in my name, so I've got to try and make them both happy. It obviously matters to her and I've got to keep on her sweet side.

"It takes up more space on the jersey so that's why I'm asking for an extra-large from now on! But our kit man has done a good job fitting it on.

"I'm sure a few folk on Twitter will be asking why I've changed it, so I hope there aren't many fans with Sinclair on the back of their shirts."