GABRIEL PICCOLO is confident he can hit the right note for Partick Thistle after clinching a Firhill deal.

The Mexican put pen-to- paper on his move to Firhill just minutes after starring in the 0-0 draw with AEL Limassol on Saturday and will provide competition for regular centre-back duo Conrad Balatoni and Aaron Muirhead this season.

Piccolo has swapped Rayo Vallecano's 'B' team for life in Glasgow and is eager to show he can mix his no-nonsense style with the slick passing play Jags boss Alan Archibald is keen to see this season.

He said: "I am going to enjoy it and learn from it and help the team as much as I can.

"I still have to learn about the different style of football in Scotland. It is different around the world and I have to adapt to the game here.

"I will learn quickly and pass on my experience to my team-mates.

"I want to look up and go forward with the club. It is going to be hard but we will have a good team and we will be competitive.

"We will try our best and hopefully stay up with the best teams.

"I think the game here will suit me. I can play with a physical style, I don't mind that.

"But I can play the way the manager wants the team to. He wants us to pass the ball and play good football.

"It will be a good combination for us this season.

"I think we can have a good season. We will be very competitive and I think it will be a good season."

Thistle kick off their SPFL Premiership campaign with a mouth-watering clash against Dundee United tomorrow.

And Piccolo is determined to showcase his talents after a frustrating spell in Spain.

The 23-year-old said: "I am still gaining fitness and match time. I am getting to know my new team-mates, it has been very good so far. I have good feelings about my move and the club.

"I wasn't expecting to come to Scotland this summer but when I heard about the move I felt good about it and I think it will be exciting for me.

"I have been doing my research on Scottish football. I am getting to know the teams and some of the players.

"Because I was an Under-23 player, my former club in Mexico was asking for compensation and stuff from Rayo and it all got a bit complicated. I tried to find a way out. It was a mutual thing.

"I didn't play in the first team there. I trained with the first team and played in friendly matches. I played with the second team the whole year. I am an internationalist at Under-20 and Under-21, too.

"It is a good chance for me here and I am looking forward to the season."