Friday 19th January, 2018 at 2:21pm
James Penrice has returned from his loan spell at Livingston and the young defender is raring to go as Thistle get back into competitive action in the Scottish Cup.
Penrice may not have had as long as the other players since his last game but that’s enough already as he and the rest of the squad prepare for a trip to take on Queen of the South.
Speaking to ptfc.co.uk Penrice admitted: “We’re all looking forward to getting back into action. It’s a Scottish Cup tie which are always great to play in and we can’t wait to get out there.
“I’ve not had as long a break as the other boys because I was at Livingston but we all can’t wait to get out and play a competitive game.
“You want to get a good run in the Scottish Cup, it’s a special competition and we want to do as well as we can. We have to take that one game at a time and that starts on Saturday.”
The players have returned from a week in Spain for a warm weather training camp and James thinks it was worthwhile, especially for him
“We had a good week in Spain, it was good for the squad to get away for some bonding, but it also allowed us to be able to work hard, train well and work on some things.
“It also allowed me to get back in around the squad and back with the boys all the time and let me get back used to being a Thistle player again to prepare for an important second part of the season.”
The Jags number 21 spent the first half of the season at Livingston, playing regularly, albeit in a midfield role rather than his usual left back spot, however he feels is was a positive experience all round.
“I really enjoyed my time at Livingston, I feel I improved as a player, I played regularly at a high level and think I done well. I now need to use what I learned there at Thistle and continue to improve. The aim now is to try and cement a place in the team.
“I’m thankful for Livingston for taking for taking the chance on me and hopefully I paid them back with my performances. I was mostly playing a midfield position and got some time at centre half before I went, it gives me a better all round game and if I play left back it lets me know what other positions are thinking and have a greater understanding of those around me.”
Just after Penrice’s temporary move to Livingston, Callum Booth suffered an injury that has kept him out since, it was bad timing for Penrice, who would have likely got his first team shot at Firhill, but he admits he had to just get on with it.
“There was no point thinking too much about it, I just had to get my head down and make the most of the opportunity Livingston gave me and hopefully I managed to do that.”
Penrice has played Queens a number of times already this season, including getting a goal earlier in the season, and only 2 weeks ago in his last game for Livingston. He’s looking forward to a return.
“I’ve got good memories of Palmerston, I got my first professional goal for Livingston against them so I’m looking forward to going back and hopefully I can do the same again!
“I played Queen of the South in my last game for Livingston too so it’s strange playing them again so soon but hopefully that might help and I’ll know all about 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.
