Andrew McCarthy hopes Peterhead can provide him with a path back to full-time football.
The midfielder has joined the Blue Toon from Queen of the South and may feature in today’s game with Falkirk at Balmoor.
McCarthy started his career with Partick Thistle and played 37 games in the Premiership and Championship for the Maryhill Jags.
The 21-year-old switched to Queen of the South last summer, but has made only nine appearances for the Doonhamers and was allowed to leave Palmerston this week.
In time, McCarthy would like to return to full-time football and believes the Blue Toon can provide him with the platform to do so.
He said: “Going part-time is a bit of a change for me – but I’m looking forward to it.
“I’ll be working hard to make sure I’m as fit as I can be to give it my best shot.
“I think going part-time will be a good change for me. Hopefully at some point I can go back to full-time football but right now I just want to focus on playing every week and getting my confidence back.”
In a bid to hit the ground running, McCarthy plans to supplement his two training sessions with Jim McInally’s side by also training with former club Partick.
He added: “I know a lot of the boys at Thistle and Alan Archibald the assistant manager used to be my manager there.
“So I still speak to him and he’s said I can come in and train with them. So I’ll probably do that just to keep my sharpness up.”
McCarthy is keen to make his Blue Toon bow this afternoon against League 1 title chasers Falkirk.
The Bairns sit third in the table three points behind leaders Raith Rovers and McCarthy would relish facing the full-time side.
He said: “It would be a good game to be involved in. Falkirk are a good team with a lot of good players so hopefully I can be involved.
“The boys say it’s a good league with the full-time teams in it and Peterhead are able to hold their own in it.
“So hopefully we can rise to the challenge against Falkirk and get a decent result.”
Peterhead striker Derek Lyle and midfielder Gary Fraser also played a part in McCarthy joining the Blue Toon.
Fraser played alongside McCarthy at Partick and Lyle trains with Queen of the South and both were quick to make pitches about the benefits of coming to Balmoor.
“I know Derek and Gary from my previous clubs,” McCarthy said.
“The had been speaking to me in the past about how good a set up it is at the club.
“There are really good players at Peterhead, probably Championship level players so it appealed to me getting the chance to play with them.
“Speaking to Derek he’s said a lot about how well the club look after players and how good the facilities are. Those were factors in my decision and it always helps when you hear other players speaking highly about the club.
“Derek and Gary have been around and been to a number of clubs so they know what they’re talking about.
“When they talk to you about things like this you need to listen and it’s been reassuring to hear them saying good things about Peterhead.”
Peterhead are without Fraser this afternoon due to a rib injury and also Simon Ferry because of suspension.
Defender Paddy Boyle is a major doubt with a cheek problem.
