MARK Russell never thought for a second that he would make his professional football breakthrough as a defender – as he hadn’t played anywhere besides up front until two years ago.

Upon signing for the Morton youth academy after trials in the summer of 2012, he had spent his boys’ club career as a star striker.

Under-17s boss Derek Allan felt he had more potential as a wide player, though, and moved him out to the left wing. It was a switch which eventually earned Russell a full-time contract at Cappielow.

However, the most dramatic stage in his development came under the tutelage of development squad boss David Hopkin this term.

Former Scotland internationalist Hopkin wanted to give wide midfielders Russell and Aidan Fulton a taste of what the left-back playing behind them would experience in a typical game.

Although then-interim manager Hopkin handed him his first start at left midfield in a cup tie against Inverness Caley Thistle, it was as a flying full-back that the 18-year-old really caught the eye. Since that November afternoon in the Highlands, he has made several substitute appearances, but only recently made his first league start, in the 2-0 defeat at Alloa Athletic last week.

His display was the sole positive, and with first choice left-back Marc Fitzpatrick expected to be out for the rest of the season, it is likely that Russell will feature in all three of Ton’s remaining matches.

The Paisley-born teenager is determined to seize the opportunity, even if he still struggles to get his head round the fact it has come as a defender.

He told the Tele: “I was a bit surprised the first time Hoppy [David Hopkin] told me I was playing left-back for the reserves, because I’d never played there before.

“He played me there one game and I wasn’t so great, but he tried me there again a few weeks later and I was better. After that I just kept playing there.

“At boys’ club level I played striker, and even when I went for the trial with Morton, I played up front in that too. They signed me as a striker but turned me into a left winger from there.

“Could I have seen myself ended up as a left-back in the first-team?

“No, definitely not. I couldn’t have imagined that when I was younger. When I started playing there Hoppy would take me aside and give me advice on what to do and what not to do. I took that on board.

“I’ve adapted and learned the position by playing there in the reserves, when to go forward and come back, where to position myself. Things like that.

“I still need to work on my defending. That’s something I’d like to be a wee bit better at because I’ve not been used to it.

“Before I was always going forward and maybe not mindful of defending, but obviously if I’m playing left-back I’ll need to continue to improve that side of my game.

“But I’m enjoying it there. It means you can get up and down the pitch, to defend but also get up support the attack as well. If I’m in the team, I’m happy playing anywhere really.” The Cappielow club were relegated after last Saturday’s loss at Recreation Park, and although Russell was gutted to go down, he is trying to remain positive.

He added: “I knew we could get relegated if we didn’t win, but I tried to put that out of my mind and play my normal game.

“It was a major downer to be relegated. It felt terrible after the game really; it’s hard to put it into words. Everybody’s head was down.

“I thought I did all right last week on a personal level. It wasn’t great, a bit negative, with the team losing the game and getting relegated, but I was pleased to get a start.

“Hoppy took me aside and said I did well.

“He was pleased with my performance and that was a decent thing to hear.

“Obviously I would have liked to have started again sooner than I have, but I’m quite happy to bide my time and to play when the manager thinks I’m ready.

“The manager hasn’t mentioned anything about me starting the rest of the games or anything like that.

“I think he’s just going to take it one game at a time and see how I do. If I play well, he’ll maybe keep me in. That’s something I’m aiming for. It’s great experience for me.

“We’ve got Dundee today and just as long as the team play well I’ll be happy. We need to go out and try to get something from the game.

“It’s about personal pride but it’s also about representing this club. We have to go out and give everything for the fans.”