AIRDRIE skipper Steven McKeown will sign for Partick Thistle today - and is set to be immediately plunged into this afternoon's derby dust-up against Clyde. Marko van bustin' to end goals jinx THISTLE frontman Mark Roberts is motoring into top gear to break his derby duck against Clyde today.

Roberts said: "It is always the same with Clyde, they are just horrible to play against.

"Especially at this time of the year there seems to be that bit extra in the derby.

"I am desperate to score my first goal against them, but what is important is that we get three points and pay our punters back for their support over the last year.

"Our home form has been decent and we have been playing well but not getting the results we deserve."

Roberts added: "What we have to do now is string a run of three or four wins together and see where that will take us.

"Realistically, you have to say the title has gone with Hamilton 17 points in front. But you can never say never."

Provided his registration clearanes comes through, the combatative 26-year-old midfielder will be pitched into Jags' squad for the Firhill showdown after joining on a two-and-a-half year deal.

And Thistle boss Ian McCall reckons McKeown will add a bristling presence to the Firhill boiler room.

McCall said: "At 26, Steven has his best years in front of him. He is a young, hungry player who is desperate to go to the next level.

"He has captained Airdrie already and is exactly the type of player I want in my dressing room. Steven is also versatile in that he can play up front where he started his Airdrie career or at the heart of the midfield.

"But we see him as a goalscoring midfielder who will bring some steel to our central area."

The tough-tackling Dawser has already scored seven times for the Diamonds this season in the Irn-Bru Division Two.

And his move to Firhill will bring to an end a nine-year association with Airdrie as a youth and first team player.

It is understood that McCall also hopes to sign a striker, possibly on a short-term deal until the end of the season. In that respect the Thistle boss is believed to be looking at options south of the border and in the SPL.

However McCall's bid to agree a two-and-a-half year deal with Motherwell for Willie Kinniburgh has hit a snag.

But the Jags' boss has not given up hope of snaring the stopper who would have been unavailable for today's derby in any case after receiving a straight red for violent conduct against Dundee on Saturday.

But the Thistle gaffer has also been busy in the other direction as he bids to free up funds to strengthen his squad.

Adam Strachan has now signed for Ross County and McCall is close to agreeing a deal with the Dingwall side to make stopper Scott Boyd's loan deal permanent.

Kilmarnock's Paul Di Ciacomo has returned to Rugby Park after he failed to grasp his chance to extend his four-month loan deal at Dundee on Saturday.

And Everton's England Youth international Steven Connor has returned to Goodison after a hamstring problem ruined his four- month loan deal at Firhill.

But focusing his mind on the derby visit of Clyde McCall said: "Obviously we have won both the derby games already this season but the New Year one is always the big one for the punters.

"It's at Firhill and we have a decent record at our place and it's up to us to bounce back from the Dundee defeat. All that must equal three points."