By Mark Hendry

MORTON defender Ricki Lamie says the emergence of the club’s rising stars has left him feeling like a dressing room veteran — despite only being 23 years old.

Lamie believes a mixture of youth and experience has been the key to his side’s impressive start to the season and says the youngsters who have featured have already proved their worth with a string of fine performances.

A number of the Ton development squad hopefuls have made the breakthrough to first-team action this season, forcing their way into manager Jim Duffy’s plans with some promising displays.

Young striker Scott Tiffoney scored a double against Livingston in a friendly and featured as a late sub the team that saw off Premiership side Hamilton, while Jai Quitongo has become a first choice this season and netted against Accies, Berwick and Kilmarnock. 

Lamie was also part of the Ton side that shocked Hamilton last week in the Betfred League Cup so has seen first-hand the impact the emerging talents are having on the squad.

Speaking to the Tele, Lamie said everyone was encouraged by the team’s positive start to the season.

He added: “We have a great dressing room right now.

“There’s a great blend of young guys and more experienced players here at the moment and the younger guys who have come in have already shown their worth.

“What we may lack in experience we can really make up for in enthusiasm and work-rate.”

Morton have not lost in their first seven competitive fixtures and Lamie puts that fact in part down to a blend of young, exciting talent and solid, hard-working experienced heads.

The defender joked that he already feels like a veteran, despite only being 23-years-old himself.

He said: “I feel like one of the oldest guys in here, and I’m just the tender age of 23!”

Lamie has been at Cappielow since joining from Airdrieonians in 2014 and recognises that he is now one of the team’s more experienced campaigners.

He added: “Age-wise not many squads possess what we have, such a good mix of youth and experience.

“A few of us have played a lot of games. Others might look and think we are inexperienced, but we’ve got the likes of Michael Tidser and Ross Forbes who have been there and done it.

“A good few of the squad have between 100 and 150 first team appearances under our belts.

“It’s about stepping up to the plate for us now and trying to help the younger players develop.”