DECLAN McManus is uncertain whether his future lies at Fleetwood Town or not but revealed a return to Morton is an option that Jim Duffy has put on the table.

The hitman spent the second half of last term on loan at Cappielow in what was his third separate temporary stint with the Ton.

His contract with English League One outfit Fleetwood still has one season to run with the option of another year and, contrary to rumours, McManus has not been released.

However, Highbury gaffer Steven Pressley has made it clear the 21-year-old is unlikely to feature in his first-team, making a summer departure a realistic outcome.

And McManus confirmed that Ton boss Duffy has made it perfectly clear that he would welcome him back to Greenock with open arms should the opportunity arise.

When asked about his future by the Tele, he said: “I don’t know what’s happening yet. It’s still up in the air — I don’t know where I’m going to be.

“I’ve spoken to Fleetwood and I’m not guaranteed to play every week and that’s what I want to do — I’m of the age that I need to be playing every week to be getting better and enjoying my football.

“It might be the best option to look somewhere else, but we haven’t come to a conclusion because I’ve obviously still got another year and year-option at Fleetwood. I’ve not spoken to other clubs regarding going anywhere else, so if things stay the way they are at the moment I’ll still be at Fleetwood.

“Is there a chance I could be back at Morton next season? I don’t know. It is an option that will be on the table.

“I’ve already spoken to Jim and I know he would have me back if I was able, but as I say I’ve honestly no idea what will happen yet.

“I’m in a situation where I don’t know where I’m definitely going to be. I’m contracted to Fleetwood so for now it’s back there at the end of this month for pre-season training.

“But hopefully everything will get sorted out in the next couple of weeks and I’ll be somewhere that I’m enjoying my football again.”

McManus loved his most recent loan spell with Morton and says he added a few strings to his bow after being cast in a new role in the Championship.

He explained: “It was different for me with big Denny [Johnstone] up top. 

“I learned a lot from playing in different positions, even in midfield, and enjoyed it.

“I enjoyed doing the creative side instead of strictly scoring goals like I did in my first two loan spells. I think I created a lot more for the likes of Denny and can recall a few assists.

"It was successful individually — I also won the February Player of the Month — and successful for the team getting fifth in the table, which in the first season back no one would have imagined.”

McManus has established himself as a firm fans’ favourite over the course of the past two seasons with the Ton. 

As well as building up a rapport with the supporters, he has also formed close friendships with his team-mates and confessed bidding farewell after the Falkirk game was difficult.

He said: “I love it at Morton and love playing my football there. Everybody at the club and the fans are just brilliant with me. I’ve got a lot of good memories and have nothing but good words to say about the place and about the club.

"Obviously after the Falkirk game I was gutted that was it and it was finished. 

“And I was gutted I didn’t score — I should’ve got myself a goal that day and had one chopped off that shouldn’t have been.

“I wanted to go out with a goal and to give the fans something to cheer about and remember, but it was one of those days. I was emotional leaving and knowing that I was leaving the boys again.

“It’s the best dressing room I’ve been a part of in terms of morale and I’ve got a lot of mates for life in that team — so it is tough when you leave.”