CAPTAIN Lee Kilday believes the introduction of Gavin Gunning to the Morton side has injected healthy competition into the squad — but says he wants to regain his place in the starting lineup as soon as possible.

Kilday picked up an ankle injury in Ton’s recent 2-1 defeat of Dunfermline Athletic and then missed the Sinclair Street side’s last two fixtures against Dundee United.

The defender has praised the pairing of Gunning and stand-in skipper Thomas O’Ware for their performances in his absence but made it clear he wants to dislodge one of them as soon as he is fit again.

He told the Tele: “When Gavin joined I was happy because I felt we needed another centre-back to come in. There’s always got to be competition.

“Obviously Ricki [Lamie] was injured and it was only me and Tam [O’Ware] but I was struggling a wee bit with my hip.

“Gavin and I started the Dunfermline game but I unfortunately got injured.

“But him and Tam have done well together, so I don’t mind that bit of competition.

“There’s always competition in football and that’s something you’ve got to take, so we’ll see what happens when I come back.

“We’ll get the best out of each other, but I want to come back and play and not be sitting on the bench.

“Competition is good for the full team and Ricki is coming back soon, so that’ll be even more at the back.”

Kilday watched from the stand on Saturday as his team-mates went down at Tannadice, and he felt they were hard done to.

The centre-back felt the outcome would have been different had Aidan Nesbitt’s 38th-minute effort found the back of the net rather than cannon back off the post.

Kilday said: “It’s hard watching from the stands when you’re not playing but I thought the boys did well.

“We looked the better team.

“If Aidan’s shot went in we’d have gone on to win the game.

“But these things happen. It’s just disappointing to lose after being the better team.

“Dundee United are expected to be at the top challenging this year so it just shows how good a team we are.”

Ton’s latest acquisition, midfield man Andy Murdoch, made a brief appearance from the bench in the last 10 minutes of Saturday’s game and Kilday reckons he will be a good addition.

He said: “Andy has come in to add something to the midfield.

“I’ve not been training so haven’t seen him much, but I’ve known him for a couple of years now.

“He’s a good boy and I’m sure he’ll have no problem fitting in with the team.”