PARTICK Thistle new boy Blair Spittal believes budding footballers in Scotland would only benefit from first-team football at an early age.

Whilst the debate about youth academies and the pathway for young players in the country is ongoing, the midfielder arrived from Dundee United on Thursday to sign a two-year deal with almost five years of first-team experience under his belt — and he is only 21.

Spittal made his debut for Queen’s Park in November 2012 when he was only 16.

“The only way you are going to gain experience is by playing first-team football and I was just glad I got the chance early on in my career,” he said.

“Through the years quite a lot of people have taken that chance and I am thankful to them for what they have done for me. I am looking to build on that now I am here.

“You want to play at the highest level you can and hopefully I can start to build on that.”