MORTON’S new Under-20s coach John Sutton hopes his vast experience as a player will help the youngsters at the club.

The former St Mirren and Motherwell striker was appointed as Darren Barr’s replacement earlier this week, and will start work at Cappielow next month.

His 16-year playing career took him across the globe. He began in England with Tottenham Hotspur, moved up to Scotland, before having a brief stint in Australia with A-League side Central Coast Mariners.

After studying for his coaching badges in his earlier days as a player, he’s hoping it will stand him in good stead when he begins his new role.

He told the Tele: “Coaching is always something I’ve had in the back of my mind. I did my B and A licences at quite a young age.

“When I was doing my coaching badges I’ve always tried to think hard about my own game, how I can improve as a player and an athlete and technically, and I’ve been lucky enough to be playing 16 years full-time.

Hopefully some of the things I’ve picked up in that time will help the current squad, and the aim is to get the boys into the Morton first team.

“And if they don’t get into the first team they’ll have good careers, whether it be in football or something elsewhere, and that’s what I’m trying to be a part of.”

Meanwhile, development squad midfielder Jack Purdue yesterday signed a one-year contract extension that will keep him at Cappielow until June 10 2019.