Damon Gray only has a month to live the first-team dream, so you won't catch him hanging about. And he is hoping First Division defenders have the same problem.

Partick Thistle's new emergency loan signing is desperate to get as much competitive match time under his belt as possible at Firhill.

As we exclusively revealed in later editions yesterday, the 19-year-old Hibs striker has signed for a month and has set his sights on making his mark against Queen of the South tomorrow.

The Newcastle boy has been top scorer in the Easter Road reserves for the last two seasons and is fed up firing bullets in football's phoney war.

"I was frustrated at Hibs at not getting the chance to show what I can do and just desperate to go somewhere that would give me that chance.

"I know Ian McCall had been interested in taking me before Christmas and obviously I know Partick are a big club with plenty of tradition.

"When the opportunity came I jumped at it. Now I am here I just want to play in as many games as possible, hopefully starting tomorrow against Queen of the South.

"Last season I got eight goals in nine games for Hibs reserves and this season it is 10 goals from 10 games.

"Last season on my first team debut I scored at Aberdeen and I would just love to have had the opportunity to try and score more for Hibs, but that is why I have come to Thistle - to score as many goals as I can in competitive first team football."

An out-and-out scorer, the Hibs youngster has no doubts in his ability.

He said: "Getting in the box and on the end of things is what I do best. I make runs in behind and onto balls threaded through for me. I have a good turn of pace and I like to play behind the defensive lines.

"I just want to score goals, really. I've enjoyed a couple of sessions now and there are plenty of good players at the club.

"With Liam Buchanan out injured there are still guys of the quality of Mark Roberts and Simon Donnelly and I can learn from these boys."

Should Thistle draw Hibs in the Scottish Cup quarter-final, there will be no Jags place for Gray.

He said: "I am not allowed to play in the Cup and that is disappointing. But, to be fair to the boys already here, they got Thistle to the quarter-finals and deserve a crack at SPL opposition."

Newcastle boy Gray served his apprenticeship at St James' Park, where his hero was ex-England skipper Alan Shearer.

Having overcome the disappointment of being released, he has been handed an Easter Road contract until 2009. And he also got the chance to meet and work with his Geordie hero.

Gray revealed: "I played for Newcastle Under-16s and it was a major disappointment to be told I wouldn't be going full-time with them. It was hard for the first few weeks but my family encouraged me and I got my head up and started to work hard again.

"I went round a few clubs, came up here, enjoyed it, and was asked to sign. Just the other week I had the pleasure to work with Alan Shearer when he came into Easter Road to do some coaching as part of his Uefa badge - a great experience."

Mark Roberts will return for Queen of the South after three weeks out with a calf injury. However Liam Buchanan, John Robertson and Kevin McKinlay are all out.

A bullish McCall said: "This is a big game and it is a boost to be looking at Marco being back. Damon Gray coming in has added a bit of competition and that is important."