Partick defender Liam Lindsay keeps football in the family

Partick Thistle youngster Liam Lindsay has revealed how his footballing relatives inspired him to follow his first-team dreams at Firhill.

The Jags defender's uncle is former St Mirren, Aberdeen and Thistle midfielder Ricky Gillies, while his dad James Lindsay was once on the books at Celtic.

The 20-year-old spent his childhood watching and learning from Gillies - once tipped for a £300,000 move to Liverpool after breaking through at Love Street.

With the wise words he has received from both his uncle and father, Lindsay has managed to keep his head down and work his way into Alan Archibald's line-up this season.

And Lindsay is grateful he had his loved ones' guidance as they set about making his ambitions a family affair.

He told Press Association Sport: It's good having guys in my family who've been through what I am now. I remember reading about Ricky almost moving to

Liverpool. I used to go to most of his games and I would think, 'Yeah, this is what I want to do when I am older'.

He was a big help to me growing up, giving me advice and encouragement. He still is. He's involved all the way and still comes to watch me with my dad. He's always giving me tips.

He was one of my heroes growing up. I remember seeing him play with St Mirren. My earliest memory is being ball-boy during a game he was playing in against Celtic.

That was a great motivation for me and really fired me up to become a footballer. I used to talk to him all the time about what it was like to play football for a job. Everything about it just sounded brilliant.

I'm not the same type of player as him at all though. He was a midfielder and I play at the back. My dad played football as well. He was a goalkeeper so I'm not sure how I ended up being a defender. Dad was on Celtic's books as a youngster but just didn't fancy it after that.

However, it was great having the both of them there growing up. It has made the transition from youth football to the first team easier because they know what they are talking about. They have been in my position and were able to tell me what to do and what not to do. I've got common sense but it is still good to hear those bits of advice.''

Lindsay was farmed out to Alloa and Airdrie earlier in his Jags schooling as Archibald set about moulding the raw teenager into a first-team candidate.

And the manager certainly has faith in the centre-back, who has now made 15 starts this season while keeping the likes of Freddie Frans out of the side.

Speaking ahead of Wednesday's trip to Aberdeen, he said: I've enjoyed my run in the team. We got off to a bad start but things are better now and we're sitting sixth.

At the start of the season I thought I would get a sniff of some games but I never thought I'd be a regular starter, so it's been a surprise to have nailed a place down so far.

I've been playing ahead of guys like Freddy and that is good for my confidence. He's an experienced guy so it shows that the gaffer has faith in me.''