Stevie Lawless clocked up his 50th competitive game in a row for Partick Thistle last Saturday at Kilmarnock, and he has put the achievement down to him being more settled at the club than ever.

The attacking midfielder marked the occasion with a well-taken goal, the latest in a string of eye-catching strikes that he has put away over the last couple of seasons.

There was speculation over his future at Firhill towards the end of last season, with both Inverness and Dundee United making their interest in securing his services public knowledge.

Lawless rebuffed those advances to sign a two-year deal at the club, and he says that he is delighted with the choice he made.

“I couldn’t tell you how I’ve managed 50 games in a row because I’ve always got aches and pains,” Lawless said. “But you just need to get through it, that’s just part and parcel of the job.

“If I’ve got a wee niggle I’ll still go in the team and try the best I can, but touch wood, I’ve not really had anything that I feel would stop me playing.

“You can’t really go on a run like that if you’re not settled. If you’re not strong in your head then wee niggles and that would probably rule you out if that was your mind-set. You’d probably just say you couldn’t be bothered.

“I’m settled here and I’m enjoying my football. The lads are all brilliant and it’s a great place to be.

“I think this is the first year that I’ve managed to stay in the team and not have a massive dip.

“Obviously there has been games where I’ve not been as good as the one before, but I think it’s the first time I’ve managed to stay at a certain level.

“Even when I’ve not been at my best, I’ve managed to do a good job for the team defensively, or help other players out. I feel it’s probably the most consistent I’ve been.

“You need to try and take confidence from the fact that other teams want you. The main thing is that it doesn’t go to your head and it doesn’t affect your play.

“That’s what I’ve tried to do, and hopefully I can take that into these games, score more goals and prove them right that they wanted me.”

Lawless will line up against his former side Motherwell at Firhill this afternoon, and a repeat of the match back in February where he scored a late deflected winner would suit him just fine.

It’s fair to say that particular match wasn’t one for the purists, but after four games without a win, Lawless will take three points any way that he can get them.

“I wouldn’t say there is an extra edge, but Motherwell are one of the teams that I look forward to playing against,” he said.

“I still know a few boys that are there so that adds to it as well, but it’s not one that gives me any extra motivation.

“It’s one I look forward to because I played with them, well, the youths and that!

“I would take another deflected goal like the winner I got against them last season. I’d rather take ten scrappy goals than three screamers, so if it gets us the three points then of course I would take another deflected goal.

“Especially at home we need to put in a performance first and foremost, because if we don’t then we’ll be looking at another St Johnstone game where the boys didn’t do ourselves any justice.

“We need to try and beat the Motherwells and Kilmarnocks, games against these teams are massive.”