WHO needs the Bernabeu or the Nou Camp when you’ve got Firhill? “As a kid you dreamed of Real Madrid or Barcelona but it was a bit far-fetched,” said Partick Thistle defender Liam Lindsay.

He may not be on the radar of the scouts from La Liga – well, not yet anyway – but Lindsay has been attracting plenty of attention from others. For the time being, though, the Paisley born centre-back is enjoying life at Thistle as he continues to establish himself as a key weapon in Alan Archibald’s defensive armoury.

“The attention has been flattering but my job is to keep doing a job for Thistle and keep gaining experience,” said Lindsay, whois forging a handy partnership at the back with new recruit Niall Keown. “I obviously want to play at the highest level but I’m happy here at the moment. This is a great place to learn your trade.

“Getting the game and the experience at this age is massive. You can maybe leave too early. You see it all the time. People going down south without any experience and they end up coming back up the road.

“Niall came in at the best possible time as we were in La Manga during the winter break. All the players mingled and we got to know him. He has slotted in really well and it has all been positive. I’ve had a few defensive partners but I enjoy playing with him.”

Thistle are just one point outside the top six and are slowly but surely inching themselves away from the perils at the foot of the table. Victory over a Hearts team still smarting from that heavy defeat they suffered to old foes Hibs in the Scottish Cup would be another step in the right direction “It’s the stage of the season where stringing a few results together can make all the difference,” he said. “We have a run of home games coming up where we will be expected to take points so there are no excuses. We just need to keep working hard. Consistency is going to determine whether we make the top six or not.”