JACK Iredale says he hopes he can be like a new signing for Jim Duffy after coming back to Morton from his loan spell.

Iredale, 21, spent the last few months on loan at League One outfit Queen’s Park, under the tutelage of former St Mirren gaffer Gus MacPherson.

The defender operated as a left-sided centre half for the Spiders and made 14 first-team appearances, netting a goal in their recent 2-2 draw with Albion Rovers.

But Ton manager Duffy wasted no time in pitching Iredale into the thick of things when his loan deal expired.

He was handed a start in Saturday’s 2-1 win over Dunfermline in the fourth round of the Scottish Cup — and operated as a left-sided full-back.

And Iredale wowed the travelling support with a number of forays down the flank and some deadly crosses into the box.

Now Iredale plans to give manager Duffy the best possible selection headache after coming back a more confident player altogether.

Iredale lifted the lid on his loan spell and told Tele Sport: “It was good and I definitely learned a lot going into that division.

“And that’s what the gaffer said to me when I left — that I needed to go away and experience something like that. Fortunately for me I really enjoyed it.”

Iredale also told how Queen’s boss MacPherson played a part in his improvement.

He said: “He always took the time to tell me what I was doing well and he was able to give me constructive criticism too, in how I can get better and areas of my game that needed improvement. So I did learn a lot from Gus.

“I definitely feel a bit more confident in myself and in terms of match fitness and sharpness, you can only get that from playing games and that’s certainly helped from the games I played at Queen’s.

“Recently I’ve been playing more as a left-sided centre half but growing up I played as a left winger, so I have always enjoyed the freedom to get forward and get crosses in the box and I’ve had more joy on the wing.

“But I do enjoy playing left back and I feel like I can do a job there.

“Recently, I’ve been more of a centre half but if the gaffer wants to give me an opportunity wherever then I’ll be happy to play.”

Iredale had an inkling that his chance was going to come at East End Park.

He said: “We work on shape throughout the week in training and I had a little idea that I might get an opportunity at the weekend.

“But you never know until you get into the changing room on the weekend, then the gaffer called my name out and I was playing left-back.”

Iredale almost made himself an instant hero, delivering a cross in the 20th minute which Scott Tiffoney just failed to connect with in front of goal.

Iredale joked: “I managed a few crosses in the first half and there was one where, I don’t know what happened to ‘Tiff’. I think he had a hole in his boot or something because the cross went right through it — and I’ve had words with him about that one!

“But it’s nice to get the win and get into the next round, especially for my first game back.”