BEN Armour believes manager Jim Duffy’s presence at all of Morton Under-20s fixtures has helped him become a better player.

Armour has started the new Development League West season in scintillating form with braces against Ayr United and Clyde and he claims the first-team gaffer provides a ‘great incentive’ for him and his team-mates to put on a show every week.

He told the Tele: “It’s a great incentive for myself and the rest of the under-20s boys because you’ve got the opportunity to impress him every week.

“It’s also great that maybe if one week you don’t have the best game you’ve always got the next week to bounce back and get yourself back in his thoughts again.

“It also shows to me that he is really interested in what we’re doing and he’s watching what’s going on in the 20s league.”

Darren Barr is the development coach while Ton assistant boss Craig McPherson also helps out and Armour praised the coaching team for their advice. 

The 19-year-old revealed that Jim Duffy will occasionally hand down his own words of wisdom - which also helps the youngsters.

He added: “He’ll occasionally come and speak to us. For example the game when we played Queen of the South and were 4-1 up and let the game go. He came in and spoke to us after the game and basically told us that it was a lesson.

"It’s great to have him pass on instructions and advice like that.

“But Darren Barr and Craig McPherson, even David Wylie, are brilliant as well and we’re extremely lucky to be in a position to have these guys looking over us.”