MORTON’S newest recruit Bob McHugh hopes to be able to take advantage of team-mate Ross Forbes’ deliveries to add plenty of goals to next season’s campaign in the Championship.

Former team-mates at Motherwell, the pair already have an understanding on the pitch. 

Forbes managed an impressive 18 assists during last season’s league campaign and McHugh, who signed for Morton on Friday, remembers being jealous of the Ton stars benefiting from his left foot.

The ex-Falkirk striker hopes to be able to form a partnership next season that would see them both banging in the goals as Morton launch another assault on Premiership promotion.

Speaking exclusively to the Tele, McHugh said: “I came through with Ross Forbes at Motherwell, I knew him for four or five years before he left there. Rossco had a cracking season last year and I hope he can have another one next season. I’m looking forward to playing with him.

“I was thinking that last year watching him and breaking down the clips, I was thinking it would be ideal if I was the one getting on the other end of those assists. 

“The quality he has on the left side is unreal and if he can help me chip in with a few goals this season I’ll be more than delighted.

“I’ve played with Michael Tidser in youth internationals with Scotland so I know a lot of the boys. I’ve played against a lot of them for years as well so I know the quality that’s there.”
McHugh — most recently at the Bairns after stints at Well,  Airdrie and Queen of the South — also revealed he’s looking forward to working under perhaps the ‘best manager in the league’ in Jim Duffy.

He admits as soon as Duffy was interested in his services, there was only ever going to be one team he was going to sign for.

He said: “I’m delighted to have signed at Morton, especially that it’s all been done so quickly as well because sometimes these things can drag on a wee bit. 

“I’m over the moon with it and I’m just buzzing to get started and get the season up and running.

“Jim Duffy contacted me early in the summer and there wasn’t much waiting at all.

“He showed that he was keen to get me so for me, that was massive. I signed up on Friday so it hasn’t taken too long and I can enjoy the last few weeks of my summer and look forward to the new challenge.

“The gaffer didn’t really need to say much, to be honest, because Morton are a good club. I’ve played against them plenty of times and I know they’re a good club with a good squad and a good fan base. So it was quite an easy decision, I just had to make sure we got it done. 

“I’m delighted that it’s done and I think the gaffer is one of, if not the best in the league, so he didn’t need to sell me too much on it. It’s the right club for me now.

“There’s definitely quality in the squad and I can add to that quality as well. Obviously with the season Morton had last year I don’t see why we can’t progress a wee bit further if we can manage it.

"But the boys have a lot of quality already so hopefully the signings can add to that.”

McHugh knows he won’t walk straight into the starting 11 at Cappielow without first putting in a shift and showing he has what it takes to be Duffy’s number one pick up top.

And he is ready to battle it out with Jai Quitongo, Gary Oliver and fellow new boy Robert Thomson to push for a starting berth.

The striker describes himself as a ‘pest’ and says he’s ready to add goals to Morton’s promotion push.

He added: “I bring 100 per cent work rate and I’ve got a bit of quality to add to that as well with goals and assists. I like to pester defences and have plenty of good movement. 

“So I hope whatever comes with hard work, I can be successful here and add my fair share of goals and assists and good performances.

“There’s competition there which is healthy, maybe last year there were times when the team was a wee bit stretched because it was a small squad last year. 

“That shows that the team and the manager did really well to get to where they got. This year I don’t think it’ll be stretched. There’s healthy competition going forward and I’m up for the challenge.”