MORTON boss Jim Duffy is confident new signing Gary Fraser will have a big part to play in his side’s season run-in.

Duffy signed the 23-year-old midfielder from Partick Thistle on an emergency loan deal on Tuesday — just hours before Ton travelled along the M8 to play Livingston.

Fraser did get some game time late on and could well feature again at East End Park at some point today.

But Duffy warned that it will take an almighty effort by Fraser to displace any of the current stars in his Ton midfield.
Duffy said: “Sometimes opportunities arise very quickly when you bring players in.

“Other times they have to wait because it can depend on how the players are doing and it can depend on how you look at the game tactically.

“But Gary’s a talented player and the more he trains with the boys, the more he’ll get used to what we’re looking for.

“Over the next few games he’ll certainly be involved and that’s really why we brought him in.

“It’s competition for the other guys and options for us, that’s the reason.

“But he knows himself that he’s going to have to work hard to get into the team because Gary Harkins, Andy Murdoch and Michael Tidser have predominantly been the mainstays and by and large their performances have been good.

“But he gives us that wee bit more experience in that area if required.”

Duffy is predicting another closely contested affair at East End Park today.

He said: “Our games with Dunfermline have been very close.

There has not been much between the teams this season, although we’ve managed to nick a couple of them late on and that sometimes can be the difference.

“But they’ve got firepower and they’re a good side. We understand that but we know how they play, they know how we play, so there’s not going to be any secrets, it’s just about who performs at their best.”