MORTON’S newest recruit Luke Donnelly admits he now knows just how big a step-up the Ladbrokes Championship will be for him — but he’s buzzing to get going after making his debut in Tuesday night’s 1-0 win over Raith Rovers.

Donnelly, on an emergency loan from Celtic until May, started just behind Lawrence Shankland against Rovers and showed flashes of skill and neat possession play.

The forward has previously had spells on loan at East Stirling and Alloa Athletic, but he recognises that the Championship will be a further step-up in quality, but he’s ready to make that jump and prove he has what it takes to succeed with Ton.

He said: “Tuesday night was brilliant. I didn’t know until just before the game that I’d be starting. I was delighted and the boys saw it out with a good win. 

“It was tough conditions and the park was tough, but we got the win and that’s what matters.

“It’s a big step-up. Alloa were a good team as well, but the level of opposition I’ll play is higher and we just need to rise to it, keep performing and try and rise to that level.

“It’s only been a few days [since I joined] but it’s different from what I’m used to at Celtic with the development team.

“That’s why I came here and I enjoyed it on Tuesday. Obviously it was different conditions and a different game, but I really enjoyed myself.”

Donnelly’s move to Cappielow sees him reunited with Jamie Lindsay and Aidan Nesbitt, who are also on loan from Celtic, and he insists that they were a big driving force behind his decision to join Morton.

Former Ton and Celtic ace Denny Johnstone is also a pal — and the Colchester United striker told Donnelly how highly he rates manager Jim Duffy, ultimately selling him on the move to Greenock.

Asked if Lindsay and Nesbitt helped coax him to join Ton, Donnelly said: “They did, and before that Denny [Johnstone] was here, and they all spoke about the manager and what he’s like with the players. And they said the group of boys were excellent as well and I’ve seen that with a great win on Tuesday.

“I think it will take a bit of time to get used to it, because obviously it’s different from what I’m used to. I thought I got more and more confident as I got into the game, and hopefully I can kick on from there and raise my performance level.”

Ton striker Gary Oliver was crocked against Queen of the South last weekend, and Donnelly insists he can offer something different from Oliver’s skill set.

He added: “I’m obviously quite tall, and I can play number nine, but I’m more of a number 10 and like to get ball into feet. 

“Obviously we had to adjust our game a bit with the conditions against Raith, but I am more of a number 10.”

Asked if he has any particular goals or ambitions he would like to achieve during his time at Ton, Donnelly replied: “I just want the team to do as well as they can and try to keep my place in the team. 

“Hopefully we can make the play-offs or keep winning games and see where it takes us.”