ALAN Archibald is delighted with the options he has in his Partick Thistle squad after enduring a tough first half of the season.
A succession of long-term injuries to key players meant Thistle struggled for consistency before the winter break, leaving them near the bottom of the Ladbrokes Premiership.
They picked up two important wins during the festive period and continued that form with a 3-1 win over St Johnstone, but it is the return of several important players that is bringing optimism to Firhill.
Archibald often named just five substitutes earlier in the season, but was able to rotate his squad at McDiarmid Park with Ryan Edwards making a decisive contribution off the bench with a goal and an assist yesterday.
"It was a hard team and bench to pick," he said. "I thought we needed a freshness.
"We made five changes and we saw that. I had to leave young James Penrice and Andy McCarthy in the stands which was disappointing, but we have a good squad and options to change the game that we never had in the first half of the season.
"We brought Ryan on, and he had that energy and drive to win the match."
Conor Sammon maintained his run of form with a fifth goal in four games, and Archibald was delighted to see the big striker make an impression.
He said: "He has had little run, and he does look a threat and a real handful and he's a real team player as well.
"Ask any of the lads in the dressing room, he works so hard on his game on and off the pitch and he's getting his rewards."
Saints manager Tommy Wright was left fuming after the game and he criticised the approach of several of his players.
There was encouragement, however, to take from the performance of debutant David McMillan, who won a penalty before he was forced off with an injury picked up after being felled by Tomas Cerny.
"[He] didn't do much other than show enthusiasm," Wright said. "David picked up a hamstring injury from the challenge so that's disappointing, but we didn't do enough."
Wright is looking to strengthen before the transfer window closes on Wednesday.
"We need help and we do need players in. We have a few days left, we are leaving it right to the last minute to bring players in," he said.
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