Higginbotham looking to regain form
Kallum Higginbotham hopes he will soon be back to his best after overcoming injury - and earn himself a new deal at Partick.
The midfielder was sidelined for a month with a knee problem and is gradually improving his fitness after a run of games in recent weeks.
Higginbotham sustained the injury in a 3-0 defeat at Kilmarnock in September and is aiming to take another step towards rediscovering his top form when the Ayrshire side come calling on Saturday.
He said: "My knee is still giving me a bit of jip after training but that's just because I've been out for so long.
"I just need to get the strength back into it and then get my match-fitness back.
"You can't do that through training - you need a run of games. I've had that in the last couple of games so hopefully I can kick on."
Higginbotham is out of contract at the end of the season and added: "The manager was really pleased with my performances at the end of last season.
"He wanted the same again this season and I think I started in the same form.
"But then I got the injury and nobody wants to talk contracts when you're injured. You just want to get back playing.
"My contract is up at the end of the season and I'm just playing it by ear and waiting to see what happens.
"If I'm offered a new contract, I'll sit down and speak to the manager and see what happens.
"I'm really enjoying my football here and I love coming into training every day.
"But if I don't sign, I'll just have to move on to the next chapter."
Partick suffered a narrow 1-0 defeat at Celtic Park in midweek and, despite the result, boss Alan Archibald believes there are positives to take into the visit of Kilmarnock.
He said: "It wasn't a positive result but it was a positive performance. We had a few players missing as well and we did okay.
"There is definitely stuff we can take from the game and we look forward to Saturday's game.
"Kilmarnock have lost a few games but the last time we played them down there was probably one of their best performances and one of our worst.
"It's difficult to know what to expect on Saturday but it's got all the makings of a good game."
Partick are boosted by the return of Dan Seaborne. The defender missed the midweek defeat against Celtic through illness but has recovered ahead of the weekend action.
Frederic Frans is still struggling with a hamstring injury but will be given every opportunity to prove his fitness ahead of the game.
Kilmarnock striker Lee Miller watched Higginbotham struggle to make an impact at Carlisle - but never doubted the Partick Thistle playmaker could make an impact in Scotland.
The duo spent 10 weeks as team-mates at Brunton Park after Higginbotham clinched a short-term loan move from Huddersfield in September 2012.
But he was sent back to the Terriers with three weeks of his Carlisle stint still to run after failing to make an impact.
The Salford-born 25-year-old reignited his career with Motherwell and is now thriving at Thistle.
But Miller - whose Killie side travel to Firhill on Saturday hoping to open up an eight-point Scottish Premiership lead over the ninth-placed Jags - always knew the former Rochdale and Falkirk frontman would come good.
He told Press Association Sport: "I played with Kallum at Carlisle but he's been great for Thistle. It's like he's had a new lease of life.
"He was on a bit of a downer when he came to us at Carlisle but he has picked himself up since then.
"He came up to Motherwell and did really well and is now thriving for Thistle. If we can snuff him out we will be doing well.
"He didn't get a lot of chances at Carlisle. He was on the bench a good few times but that was it.
"He needed a change and got that at Motherwell. I'm not surprised at how well he has done since then.
"He is a quality player and we will have to watch him closely."
Kilmarnock boss Allan Johnston is still not sure how long Michael Ngoo will be ruled out for after the striker was sent for ankle surgery.
The former Hearts and Liverpool striker went under the knife on Thursday six weeks after he was injured by Celtic defender Virgil van Dijk's late tackle.
He is definitely out of Saturday's trip to face Partick at Firhill while Johnston will also have to do without the suspended Ross Barbour.
Source: PA
