MORTON manager Jim Duffy has picked out a trio of young players for praise after they shone in Saturday's 2-0 win over Stirling Albion.

Playmaker Joe McKee's was named sponsors' man of the match for a mature midfield display against the Binos.

Duffy agreed with the award and went further, stating the 21-year-old had been his side's most consistent performer for weeks.

And the pleased Ton boss also applauded teenagers Mark Russell and David McNeil for their contribution to Saturday's success.

He said: "For me Saturday was good, but it wasn't fantastic. It wasn't the best football we've played, not by a long stretch.

"But, overall, it was a resilient, determined performance with some good moments and some good [individual] performances.

"I thought Joe McKee was excellent. He was awarded the man of the match, and he would have been my choice too. I thought he was terrific - and he has been for a while.

"Joe's been the best player in our team over the last month or so. He never shirks responsibility and always wants the ball, even under pressure. He also does the other side of the game and works back.

"Mark [Russell] is only 18 and he was terrific on Saturday, absolutely terrific, both defensively and going forward.

"Even in the last 10 minutes he was desperate to bomb forward and I was having to tell him to sit as a left-back.

"That's the nature of his enthusiasm - and you'd much rather have too much enthusiasm than not enough."

Greenock lad McNeil was introduced as a 79th-minute replacement for Andy Barrowman and wrapped up the win with his first top-team goal in over a year.

Duffy has faith in to the 19-year-old's ability and hopes that hitting the net against the Binos will boost the forward's belief in himself.

The Ton boss added: "I'm delighted for David. Obviously I had a number of options and could have subbed on a different player at that stage of the game.

"I could have put Robbie [Crawford] on, I could've put young Jon Scullion on, but I just felt that David was the right option.

"David's a threat. He has pace, bags of ability, but he just has to believe in himself a bit more. He's only 19 but if he can add that inner belief then he has the ability to be a really