DONCASTER Rovers boss Darren Ferguson has ruled out a move for Morton striker Jai Quitongo during the January transfer window.

Ferguson had an original bid booted into touch by the Greenock outfit back in the summer. 

And the Rovers manager insists he won’t be tempted back into the market for the Scotland Under-21s starlet — who recently underwent surgery on his knee.

Rovers have since signed Alfie May from lower league side Hythe Town, and also expect veteran forward Gary McSheffrey back from injury next month after he too went under the knife back in October following a similar knee problem to Quitongo’s.

Ferguson said: “At the time we felt Quitongo was going to cost us quite a bit of money.

“We felt he had real potential, which he has. But the boy wasn’t keen on coming down to England. We’ve looked elsewhere, really.”

He added: “Would we go back in for him? Certainly not in this window. We’ll have to see.”

Ferguson has been an admirer of Quitongo for some time, and believes the 19-year-old has a bright future in the game. And Darren — son of Sir Alex — fears that he has blown his chance to sign the promising forward after failing with his bid back in August.

He said: “It wouldn’t surprise me if he is gone in this window, because there are quite a lot of clubs looking at him. 

“I think when you’ve got an opportunity as we did, you have to take him then.

“But it’s through no fault of our own, just that the boy decided he was a bit young to come all the way down to England.”

Several clubs including West Ham, MK Dons, Aston Villa, Swansea City and Hearts are all rumoured to be interested in Morton’s prized asset — who is out of contract in the summer.