MIDFIELDER Declan Glass has vowed to bounce back “better and stronger” after seeing his season ended prematurely by a serious knee injury.

The Dundee United man had joined Partick Thistle on a season-long loan deal and was hoping to be a key part of the club’s bid to immediately return to the Championship after being relegated to League One last season.

However, Glass’ campaign was cut short after suffering damage to his anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) during a friendly with Ayr United at the end of last month.

The Tranent 20-year-old has already undergone an operation to repair the damage in his right knee before beginning a gruelling nine-month rehabilitation.

He told Courier Sport: “Of course, it is a sickener but it is one of those things where there is nothing I can do about it now.

“You’ve got to get on with it and be back playing next season.

“There is nothing you can do about it. It does not matter when it happens in the season, you’ve got to get in the right frame of mind.

“You’ve just got to focus on coming back from it – I know it is a cliché – better and stronger than before.

“I don’t see any reason why you cannot improve on the back of it.”

Glass spent the first half of last season on loan at Cove Rangers in League Two.

The Aberdeen-based side were awarded the league title when the campaign was halted due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The former Ross High School pupil had returned to Tannadice at the beginning of January and featured seven times as he completed a special personal double with Dundee United, winning the Championship and promotion to the Premiership.

However, Glass’ appearances under new boss Micky Mellon this campaign have been limited.

A regular on the bench, he made just one appearance – a seven-minute cameo against St Mirren last month – before making the switch to Partick Thistle.

Former Fleetwood Town and Tranmere Rovers boss Mellon suggested that Glass, who said he was “getting a bit frustrated” at the lack of action, go out on loan.

Glass, who previously played in League One with Airdrie, was making one of his first appearances in the red and yellow of Partick when the injury occurred.

Initially, he thought it was “just a bang from a small challenge” but it turned out to be much more serious.

Partick Thistle wished Glass well in his recovery following the injury at Firhill.

In a statement on the club website, the Glasgow side said: “As well as wishing Declan all the best, we’d like to thank Dundee United, Micky Mellon and Tony Asghar for their professionalism around both the loan opportunity and the management of the situation following the injury.”

Now, Glass is getting ready for rehab and adjusting to life on crutches.

Ian McCall, former Dundee United boss and now Partick Thistle manager, said: “I am absolutely gutted for young Declan.

“I am sure that he will make a full recovery and has a big future in the game.”