Friday 7th September, 2018 at 2:47pm
Aidan Fitzpatrick had a starting debut to remember in the last round of the Irn-Bru Cup. The Thistle Weir Youth Academy graduate scored twice and set up a goal in not only a man of the match but a player of the round performance.
Now the Jags youngster is hoping to get his chance to impress again as Thistle travel to face East Fife.
Speaking to ptfc.co.uk he said: “I was delighted with the way I played in the last round and was honoured to be selected as player of the round. Hopefully I can continue that on Saturday against East Fife, you sometimes get those players where you play really well in a particular competition one season and hopefully the Irn-Bru cup can be that for me this season.”
Fitzpatrick lined up for the Reserves on Monday night and after a disappointing performance is hoping to grab his first team chance to improve further.
“I’m looking forward to Saturday and I’ll hopefully be able to play a part. The Reserve game against Falkirk on Monday was disappointing but that is the good thing about football, there’s always a chance round the corner to go and improve yourself and the chance every day to become better.
“If the manager does select me then I’ll go out and give it my all and try to do my best for the team. I know I’m still young and still learning. All I can do is, when I do get the chance either from the start or off the bench, go on and do my best for the team and that is the best thing I can do, show what I’ve got and continue to improve.”
Aidan is hoping the Irn-Bru Cup can not only be a team springboard to League glory but a personal one too as he looks to cement his place in the first team squad.
“We want to do well in the cup, it’s another game and a chance to win. We know the league is the main focus but it’s a chance to build momentum and confidence. It’s more opportunity for players like myself to play and impress the manager and that is what I will look to do.
“The gaffer has given me the chance this season and I’ve loved every minute of it, I want to go out and impress but I also want to go out and enjoy it, I want to repay the trust in me and have fun while doing it.”
Fitzpatrick has heard his name sung loud from the Thistle support and he believes the fans backing and belief in him is important as he goes out to try and grow as a player
“The fans backing has been great, it’s a massive boost to know they are behind me and to hear them singing my name is a great feeling.
“Knowing they are behind me is fantastic, I know I can go out on the pitch and they have my back, I don’t have to play with any fear and can go out and do what I do.
“I know if I make a mistake they won’t be on my back and I know that they have my back and I have theirs in trying to do my best for this team. We are in it together and that is a massive boost for a player like myself.”
More exclusive preview interviews with Andréa Mbuyi-Mutombo, James Penrice and Jags gaffer, Alan Archibald, are available to Jagzone subscribers – log in now to see them.
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Article Copyright © 2018. Permission to use quotations from this article online is only granted subject to appropriate source credit and hyperlink to ptfc.co.uk.
