Connor cops plea to be in middle

MORTON midfielder Connor McManus is happy to make his case for the defence – but is looking to win a midfield slot on appeal.

McManus has been pitched into the Greenock backline after joining on a free transfer from Celtic in the summer.

The makeshift defender was called on to step into the breach following injuries to Thomas O’Ware and Lee Kilday.

But the 21-year-old still has his sights fixed on securing a slot in the Ton engine room alongside the likes of Michael Tidser and Andy Murdoch.

The ex-Celt admits he knew it was always going to be tough to break into the midfield in Greenock due to the strength of competition, but says he’s still up to the challenge following the return of O’Ware and Ricki Lamie to the defensive line-up.

He said: “Ultimately I want to be able to hold down a midfield spot at Morton, of course.

“I think it was something like four games or so before I actually got a chance to play in midfield.

“That’s something that hopefully I can do more of going forward. Obviously if the team needs me elsewhere I’m happy to do that but long-term I’d like to try and keep working hard to play midfield again.

“I knew the challenge would be to try and get into the midfield and stay there. So that is still the aim.”

McManus admits he won’t be slow at asking more experienced team-mates for advice on how to tackle marauding attackers.

He added: “When I made my debut against Motherwell, Michael Tidser was the player who came up to me and talked me through things before the game.

“He told me to go and enjoy it, to play even though it’s not my position. He said ‘go and give everything, there’s no real pressure on you so go and try to enjoy it and play the best you can’. So he has been good for advice.”