LEE Kilday says Morton’s latest signings are already bedding into the squad as the new season approaches.

Skipper Kilday knew his new team-mates would have no problem settling in at Cappielow thanks to the togetherness already in place between the players — which he says all stems from the management team of Jim Duffy and Craig McPherson.

He told the Tele: “Every year I’ve been here the dressing room has always been brilliant. It’s something that the gaffer has always drilled into us and we’ve always been so close. 

“I think last season it was the best dressing room I’ve been involved with, it’s been amazing.

“That closeness I think comes from the gaffer and Hagi [Craig McPherson]. We look forward to this season now and hopefully we can do the same again.

“The new lads coming into the club in the summer, I’m sure they can be just as close, I’m sure they will be because we’re a very inviting dressing room. The first day the boys come in they get a bit of banter and I’m sure it’ll be the same this year.”

Kilday reflected on last season’s achievements and claims his side can be even more proud of themselves considering the average age of the squad in place at the time.

With a squad average age of just 23, Ton punched above their weight last term with regards to experience levels. 

Kilday is pleased that they were able to do so — and hopes they’ll be able to exceed expectations again this coming campaign, albeit with some slightly older heads in the dressing room.

He said: “It can be difficult when you’ve got a small squad and I think we were the youngest squad as well last season. We’ve not got a player over 30-years-old, even though Gats [Derek Gaston] just turned 30.

“But the full season we didn’t have that, we were a young team with a small squad. But everyone played their part and were great so we can’t complain.

“I think people underestimate how hard it can be, but that’s football. You have to work with what you’ve got and we had good players.  Hopefully we can push on this season as well.”

Meanwhile, Ton’s pre-season preparations step up a gear this afternoon when they take on Stenhousemuir.

A friendly at Ochilview — their first public outing of the summer — follows wins in closed doors games against Partick and Airdrie, and the game will give Duffy’s men the chance to build match fitness ahead of the competitive kick-off in a fortnight.

But Ton look set to take to the field without a handful of players who are unavailable.

Darren Barr is nursing an ankle injury picked up against Thistle last Saturday while club captain Kilday is still getting over ankle surgery and is not expected to be ready to play for another couple of weeks.

Jai Quitongo will also sit the game out.

The striker, coming back from a long-term layoff, has some swelling behind his knee and boss Duffy says he will be rested until it settles down, while midfielder Ross Forbes has a knee problem and won’t be risked either.

Kick-off at Ochilview today is at 2pm.