Partick Thistle boss Alan Archibald has admitted he will have to make a virtue out of a necessity this season.
The Firhill gaffer has already snapped up David Amoo after the speedy winger’s contract expired at Carlisle.
But regardless of whether the Jags can unearth another similar gem before they kick off their Premiership campaign at Hamilton on August 1, financial reality means that some of the talented youngsters at the club will get the chance to stake their claim for a first-term berth.
Archibald said: “We will keep looking to add some experience when we can, but the reality is that we will operate with a fairly small squad this year, and that means some of the younger lads will feature more often.
“I see us as having 22 first-team squad members, plus goalkeepers, and the truth of the matter is that number is dictated by the tighter finances in Scottish football at the moment. It is not just our club having to cut back.
“The good news is that we have some talented boys at Firhill, and some of them would have been ready to step up this season in any case.
“There are probably four who come into that bracket, Liam Lindsay, who has done well out on loan at Alloa and Airdrie, David Wilson, Jordan Leyden and Declan McDaid.
“There are others knocking at the door, but those lads will definitely get a chance to impress during the pre-season friendlies.”
The first of those fixtures sees Thistle travel to face English Conference Premier outfit Eastleigh in a friendly on July 14.
And Archibald is not ruling out a couple of new faces arriving before then. He said: “We know that there are occasions when we want a player but, because of finances, Thistle is maybe not their first choice.
“That is the reality but, as time goes by, we can become a more attractive option and hopefully that might be the case this time.”
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