Partick move capped a great year for me, says Kris Doolan

Feb 6 2009 By Fraser Wilson

Kris Doolan

PARTICK THISTLE new boy Kris Doolan hopes he can be the latest international star to light-up Firhill.

The 22-year-old striker may be the least experienced of the Jags frontline but he's the only one who can boast an international goal.

Doolan's moment of magic came last April when he was part of the winning Scotland junior select side at the Umbro Quadrangular Tournament in the Isle of Man.

And he hopes that pedigree will stand him in good stead with the Thistle supporters.

He said: "I played in the quadrangular tournament with Scotland and that was obviously the highlight of my career at that stage.

"I played in two-and-a-half games and came back with a winners' medal. I even scored the opening goal against Northern Ireland which got us off to a flier.

"It was direct from a corner but I can't claim I meant it. It's one we practised. I had to swing the ball right on top of the keeper and I did that - and better - as it went straight in."

He added: "Signing for Partick was the icing on the cake for what was a good year.

"It's been a massive jump from junior to first division but I feel that I have adapted quite well."

When the 22-year-old striker arrived last month from top junior outfit Auchinleck Talbot it would be fair to say most Jags fans new very little about him.

But while the clubs' activity in January's transfer window was geared more towards offloading players than signing them - Ian McCall might just have unearthed a gem in Doolan.

He took just two matches to get off the mark when he netted the Jags' first goal in the 2-2 draw at Queen of the South last month.

And he said: "You can't beat the feeling of scoring your first senior goal.

"I always knew I would get chances to score but it was a case of getting in the team and taking my chance quickly to get the supporters behind me.

"Hopefully that helped do that but I know I have to get my head down and keep working hard to improve my game.

"We are right in there pushing for promotion with St Johnstone and Dunfermline so there's plenty to play for. We definitely believe we have the players to succeed.

"There's a massive pedigree of strikers here with Simon Donnelly and Liam Buchanan and I hope I can follow in their footsteps and be a regular scorer for Partick."

To watch the full exclusive interview with Kris Doolan, click here.