YOUNGSTER Gary Fraser hopes a permanent move to Partick Thistle can kick-start his career after leaving Wanderers last week.

The 19-year-old midfielder, pictured, left the Reebok on Friday to sign a two-and-a-half year deal with the Jags after spending the first half of the campaign on loan at Firhill.

It ends a short spell at Wanderers where he failed to play a single senior game since his arrival in the summer after leaving Hamilton Academical and penning a two-year deal. But he is happy to have secured his future back in his native Scotland after initially returning to Lancashire after his loan spell ended a week ago.

The former Celtic youth star said: “I was just down in Bolton for three days last week.

“I knew that Firhill was the place I wanted to be and I’m delighted to be back. I loved my time on loan here, especially the first four games of the season when I played.

“It’s good to get everything sorted. It means that I can concentrate on my football and hopefully get back into the team.

“I’m going to work as hard as I can to get my place in the team and then hopefully keep my place. I’ve not had a lot of games but I feel fit and I’ll be ready to go when I’m asked to play.”

But manager Alan Archibald says he has every chance of breaking back into the team following his permanent arrival.

The Jags boss said: “I’m delighted to get Gary back, he’s a great addition to the squad.

“He’s a good passer of the ball and is a good footballer. For such a young guy he plays the game like a very experienced player.”