LIAM BUCHANAN is on course to hand Partick Thistle a boost and make the bench for Saturday's top-of-the-table trip to St Johnstone.

The striker has been out of action for five weeks due to a groin injury. But having had anti-inflammatory injections and physio, Buckie has returned to full training.

His condition will be monitored over the next 24 hours, but Firhill manager Ian McCall is hopeful the player will be in his squad for Perth.

McCall said: "The international break came at the right time for a number of our injuries, none more so than Liam. We got him back into light training last week then he resumed full training with the squad.

"We will assess Liam after every training session and see how he is after tomorrow's final work out. "He is desperate to feature in the game but we must make sure we take no chances."

The news the six-goal striker is back in the frame for the clash with Saints will give McCall something of a selection dilemma. Simon Donnelly has also resumed full training having shaken off a knock. It will be interesting to see if the manager retains faith in the Kris Doolan-Lucas Akins strike pairing.

While Doolan seems certain to retain a starting place, such has been his impact since signing from Auchinleck Talbot in January, Akins' place may be under threat.

However, against a physically imposing rearguard like Saints, it may be that Akins greater physique will help him retain a starting place.

Leaving aside the first encounter between the two teams at Firhill, where Thistle won 4-0 over Saints, in the following two tussles the lack of a target man has robbed McCall's side of a decent out ball.

With Perth being an unhappy hunting ground for Thistle - they have not won there since 1992 - McCall may use Akins to soften up the Saints back line before handing Buchanan, if fit, a high-octane final 15 minutes.

With Thistle three points adrift and six goals worse off than St Johnstone, who also have a game in hand, caution at this stage in the campaign maybe misplaced.