KRIS Doolan is confident he can fend off the challenges from Conor Sammon and Miles Storey and be Partick Thistle’s top marksman once again.
Firhill boss Alan Archibald has added the strike pair to his squad this summer as the Jags look to clinch a top six spot for a second consecutive season.
Sammon has arrived at Firhill on a season-long loan deal from Hearts, while Storey made the move from Aberdeen.
Doolan led the way with 15 goals to his name last time out and has netted in the Betfred Cup clashes with St Mirren and Airdrieonians so far this term.
And the 30-year-old is relishing the fight for a starting spot in the coming weeks as he looks to hit the goal trail once again.
He said: “Every year the manager brings in one or two strikers and they go into the team and I need to fight them off year after year. It is something that I have done every season and I don’t see it being any different.
“Hopefully it adds more quality to the squad and more depth to the squad, which is important. But I want to get my position back and keep it.
“For me, I do what I do and I don’t try and be something that I am not. I stick to my strengths, which is scoring goals and being around the box.
“To be fair, when I am playing, the players around me recognise that and they play the way that lets me score goals.”
It has been a frustrating start to the campaign for Thistle as they have been left with nothing to show for their efforts in the Premiership in recent weeks.
The Jags have been beaten by Hibernian, Celtic and St Johnstone and are one of three teams – alongside Killie and Dundee – that have yet to get any points on the board so far.
Aberdeen make the trip to Firhill this weekend and Doolan is determined to make it fourth time lucky.
He said: “It has definitely not been the start that we had hoped for and we always look to get off to a good start.
“In recent years, that hasn’t been the case so to do it again has been disappointing.
“But there is another game on Saturday and that is the main thing. Regardless of who it is, it is a chance to get three points.
“If you put it all in context in terms of how tough the games are, you realise it is a difficult run. But we should be looking to get something on the board.
“The quicker we can do that the better because it builds confidence amongst the squad and that is important.”
While Thistle have been left empty handed so far this season, Aberdeen have a perfect record.
And Doolan has been impressed with the way the Dons have gone about their business this summer.
He said: “They have signed very well in the summer, as they do most summers to be honest.
“Derek McInnes always seems to sign well and add quality to his squad and it is no surprise that he has done it again.
“They have started really well so we know how tough it is going to be. But the good thing for us is that we are at home.”
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here