MORTON youngster Ben Armour believes he can only benefit from of playing against Thomas O’Ware and Ricki Lamie in training every day — because he rates them as two of the best defenders in the Championship.

O’Ware — named in last season’s divisional Team of the Year — and Lamie have plenty of experience between them and Armour reckons he can learn a lot from the pair as he strives to make an impact in the Morton first-team.

With the likes of Dundee United, Dunfermline and St Mirren all having strong, experienced centre-halves, Armour knows he’s going to have to get used to playing against defenders who will try to rough him up and outmuscle him at every opportunity.

But the 19-year-old insists with O’Ware and Lamie, left, helping him work on his game, he will have no trouble dealing with any other stopper the Championship has to 
offer.

He told the Tele: “I am training against guys like Tam who was in last season’s Championship Team of the Year and Ricki.

“Ricki is a bit bigger than Tam and is probably one of the biggest defenders in the league, so it’s great practice playing against them every day. It’s great having that in training every day to try and bring my level up to meet theirs.

“It really has been a massive step-up from the under-20s. Not even just in terms of first-team experience and things like that, which is obvious, but guys are much bigger and stronger.

“Especially the position I play — the centre-backs are usually the biggest guys on the pitch and are a lot bigger and stronger. They’re faster as well so you need to be that wee second sharper yourself.

“But the experience level of some of them as well, it’s really, really difficult to catch them out at times. But I suppose it makes you a better player when you’re playing against these players - which is what you want.”

Armour has made a few cameo appearances for Ton in recent weeks, coming off the bench against Dundee United and Falkirk. 

And he feels ready to make the jump from playing development football to first-team games and show manager Jim Duffy he can rise to the challenge.

He added: “It’s been great recently. It’s everyone’s goal and ambition to play at the highest level and for me at the moment, the first team at Morton is the highest level.

“Trying to work my way into the team is obviously what I have to continue to do and make the use of whatever opportunity the manager gives me. Obviously it’s difficult because it is a big step from the under-20s but that’s the challenge that is put in front of us.”