Partick Thistle welcome Tommy Stewart back for trip to Livingston

Sep 23 2011 By Fraser Wilson

Tommy Stewart

TOMMY STEWART is set to return to Partick Thistle's squad for this weekend's trip to Livingston - but accepts he has little chance of finding a place in the starting 11.

The former Shamrock Rovers striker has recovered from the thigh knock which kept him out of last week's 4-0 thrashing of Ayr United.

But he fully expects to settle for a place on the bench as the Jags look to close the gap further on league leaders Morton.

He said: "I got an injection in the thigh last week and it seems to have done the job. I've trained this week and feel good and ready to play on Saturday.

"I don't expect to get in the starting 11 after last week's result but hopefully I can feature at some point and get my fitness back up.

"The main thing is that we go there and get three points and keep the good run going.

"I don't know too much about Livi but they have won their division the past two seasons and have made a decent start this year so it will be a tough game."

A four-match unbeaten run has lifted the Jags off bottom and into fourth position - just three points off top spot.

And with Morton visiting Firhill in a week's time there's every opportunity for Jackie McNamara's men to cement their place among the frontrunners.

Defender Willie Kinniburgh is definitely out of tomorrow's clash with Livi as is Scott Robertson. The latter received good news this week as scans revealed he doesn't require an operation on his knee. But he still faces six weeks on the sidelines.