MORTON’S Jack Iredale says he is hoping to fend off competition and retain his starting place at left-back this season.

The 22-year-old began to make the position his own last year, after returning from a lean spell with Queen’s Park.

The Australian defender joined the club when former manager Jim Duffy signed him as a centre-back last summer.

He said: “I want to play as many games as I can this season – I want to make the jersey my own.”

But after a loan spell out at the Spiders, playing 15 times with 14 of those in the starting line-up, he was then moved to the left-back position on his return to Cappielow.

Iredale is hoping he can carry his good end of season form into the new campaign and impress new Ton manager Ray McKinnon.

He told the Tele: “For me the aim this year is the same as it was last season, I just want to play as many games as I can.

“Towards the end of last season I was fortunate enough to find my position at left-back and I want to continue playing there, make the jersey my own, and play as many games as I can again this season.”

After Mark Russell moved on this summer, 18-year-old Lewis Strapp will now be Iredale’s main rival for the left-back spot.

The Australian says he welcomes the challenge from the highly-rated youngster, who attracted interest from then-Premier League side Swansea City last year.

He added: “Competition is healthy, no-one will want to get complacent and everyone wants to play well to keep their spot on the team.

“There are some real top quality players that have come into the club, so it can only mean good things for Morton.”

During the close season Iredale went back to one of his former sides, ECU Joondaloop, in western Australia, to help out former St Mirren star Steven McGarry with coaching duties there. The ex-Saints midfielder is now a player/assistant manager Down Under, and helped a young Iredale engineer a move to Scotland, firstly with St Mirren.

After Iredale was unable to earn a contract with the Paisley side, he soon had a trial with Morton, and was signed up by Duffy last July.

Iredale says he still gets a bit of stick off McGarry over his move to his Renfrewshire rivals.

He said: “He gives me a bit of stick on Twitter every now and then about it. I went down and spoke to their academy players about how I got my chance and how the move has worked out for me.

“Stevie helped me out massively to get over here and we’re still in regular contact. He’s still looking out for me so anything I can do to return the favour I’ll try and oblige”