FORMER Morton winger Bobby Barr hopes Raith team-mate and fellow Ton old boy Declan McManus gets a good reception at Cappielow tomorrow— because he thinks the forward deserves it.

McManus caused a stir in Greenock this summer when he rejected the chance to join Jim Duffy’s men for a fourth loan stint.

Instead the marksman signed for Gary Locke at Raith Rovers, much to the chagrin of Ton supporters, insisting he needed a ‘fresh challenge’.

But Barr reckons McManus should be well received in Greenock after everything he did for the club during his time there.

Barr told the Tele: “Obviously Deccy was there a year-and-a-half and he did really well and helped Morton win the league.

“I’d expect him to get a good reception. He did very well for the club — he helped them win League One so I’d imagine, and I’d like to think, he’d get a good reception. 

“But I don’t think he’ll mind that much regardless, he’ll be wearing a Raith strip on Saturday and will be trying to get a couple of goals.”

Barr believes his team will be in for a difficult afternoon but says he’s looking forward to his Cappielow return — and maintains his gratitude to Jim Duffy for giving him a chance last season.

He continued: “It’ll be a tough game, Morton have great players all over the park that I know well. They’re quite similar to last year and are organised.

“It’s almost the same back four and midfield so it’s going to be difficult for us. We’ll need to be at it to go down there and get anything.

“Personally I thought I had a good season there and I’ll enjoy going back to Cappielow. It’s always a good place to go, Mark Farrell keeps the surface brilliant and it’s probably one of the best in the league, if not the best.

“I’m still, and always will be, thankful that the gaffer gave me the opportunity to get back into full-time football and I enjoyed working under him and with the group of boys. It’s a great dressing room.”

But while he’s wary of Morton’s capabilities, Barr believes Raith have nothing to fear.

Rovers currently sit fourth in the Championship table and the winger wants three points tomorrow.

He said: “It’s such a difficult league but we’ve started the season well and are relatively happy with where we’re sitting.

“We’ll just try and get a positive result and continue a run that keeps us up near the top of the table.

“Our objective is just to finish as high in the table as possible. If we’re in the top three or four towards the end of the season then we’ll be happy.”