LUCA Gasparotto has spoken of his frustration after a freak injury ended his season prematurely.

The defender had just worked his way back into the side at the start of April, and impressed in his return to the side against Livingston.

Despite Ton losing 3-2 the defender played well, and had a big role in both of Ton’s goals.

He was fit and raring to go in training the following Monday, but the next day, when Morton were due to play Dumbarton, the former Rangers youth player woke up feeling unwell and in pain.

The defender says medical staff thought the injury had been picked up from the artificial turf at their training ground at Parklea Playing Fields, with Gasparotto’s leg completely swollen up, being bright red, and he was also suffering from fever-like symptoms.

The infection was another blow for the defender who had just recovered from a rib injury, and he admitted it was a disappointing way for his season to end.

Gasparotto told the Tele: “I got an infection in my leg. The medical staff said I would have got it from Astroturf, and it had got into my bloodstream and my whole leg was just bright red.

“It was just annoying really, the nature and the timing of the injury was really random and it was a freak incident, as it ruled me out until the end of the season until it was fully cleared.

“It was just unfortunate and this sort of stuff happens, and there’s not really much I could have done about it.

“I had a cut on my leg, I had to go to the hospital twice and they analysed it, and they think it was something in the astroturf that got into the cut and into my blood.

“I’d just got back into the team and I was going to play that Tuesday night against Dumbarton as well but I remember waking up on that Tuesday morning and I had no energy and it felt like I had an infection, and I couldn’t do anything.”

After beginning the season playing regularly for Falkirk, it proved a difficult time for the defender and the Bairns shortly afterwards.

The Forth Valley side were one of the favourites for promotion, but were rooted to the bottom along with Brechin City after a poor start to the season, which eventually saw manager Peter Houston lose his job and Paul Hartley taking over. The defender fell out of favour with the former Dundee boss, and saw his playing time limited.

The Canadian secured a loan move to the Cappielow side in November, and then signed a permanent deal with Morton in January.

But with the two injuries disrupting the second half of his season, the centre back was limited to 22 appearances over the 2017-18 campaign.

After a stop-start season Gasparotto is aiming to bounce back, and he’s hoping that’s with Morton.

He added: “I want to start fresh and get a full season under my belt next year, and hopefully I’m playing full games and playing as much as I possibly can.

“Right now I’m happy to stay here and I’d like to stay on at Morton but I just need to wait and see where it happens.

“Especially after the season I’ve had, it’s been a frustrating one but everyone has one of those at some point, I’ve just got to kick on next season.”