Abdul Osman commits future to Partick Thistle

Skipper Abdul Osman has signed a two-year contract extension with Partick Thistle, the Maryhill club have confirmed.

The new deal will keep the 29-year-old midfielder at Firhill until the end of the 2017/18 campaign.

Osman joined the Jags from Crewe in the summer of 2014 and has made 74 appearances for Thistle to date.

A statement on the club's official website said: "All at Firhill are delighted that Abdul has pledged his future to Partick Thistle and look forward to seeing more of the midfield enforcer in the next two seasons."

Ahead of the trip to relegated Dundee United on Tuesday night, Jags manager Alan Archibald said he believes Osman's commitment will help the club bring in other players.

"I am delighted to get him tied up on a two-year deal. He is a real leader on and off the pitch," he said.

"We have made him captain this season and he has excelled in that role.

"It will only help signing players and re-signing our players if the captain is committed.

"It is not always about finance, it is about being a good fit at the right club and we have seen that with Abdul.

"The grass isn't always greener so hopefully other ones that we want to sign realise that."

Osman, who hopes to go in for surgery on a knee complaint this week, hopes to help already-safe Thistle push for a top-half finish next season.

He said: "I like being here, the club and the city.

"There is a good group here, a good coaching staff and the manager is brilliant.

"I just have to keep getting better but for us as a club and next year we have to try to push for a top six, that is very realistic. It was close this year."