MORTON striker Declan McManus is out of Saturday’s Scottish Cup tie with Airdrie due to the terms of his loan agreement, the Tele can reveal.

The Aberdeen ace, who has scored nine goals in 13 appearances since joining the Ton on loan in August, was given permission to feature in both the Petrofac Cup and the League Cup.

But Dons boss Derek McInnes does not want the 20-year-old cup tied for Scotland’s premier knock-out competition should he return to Pittodrie in January, and has stipulated to that effect.

Jim Duffy spoke with former Ton midfielder McInnes, below left, about McManus’s situation recently and says he fully understands and respects the Dons’ wishes.

He told the Tele: “Declan’s not going to be available for selection, no. Aberdeen haven’t granted permission for him to play.

“It wasn’t unexpected.

“Aberdeen didn’t want him to play in the League Cup and we managed to convince them. But the League Cup is kind of taking place now, whereas the Scottish Cup runs right through to the end of the season.

“His loan period finishes in the New Year — that’s to say he goes back to Aberdeen; that’s something we’ll reassess nearer the time — and, from Aberdeen’s point of view, they could pick up a couple of knocks so don’t want the player cup-tied.

“I spoke with Derek personally. We keep in regular contact about Declan anyway. Aberdeen actually had a representative at our game on Saturday.

“They’ve been monitoring his progress over the course of the time he’s been with us, and when we last had a chat about him, Derek explained his thoughts. Declan’s an Aberdeen player.

“We respect their decision; there’s no problem with it. I didn’t expect him to be available so he wasn’t in my thoughts and therefore it’s something you just get on with.” On the positive front, the Cappielow club’s other loan star has been given the green light to feature against the Diamonds.

Duffy convinced Rangers gaffer Ally McCoist to allow Robbie Crawford, above, to play in the Petrofac Cup quarter-final against Alloa back in September.

And the Ton boss has been given the go-ahead to select the 21-year-old Gourock-based midfielder for Saturday’s Scottish Cup tie.

Duffy added: “Rangers have granted permission for Robbie to play and he’ll be in the squad for Saturday.

“That might be because they have a big squad with options, who knows?

“But the bottom line is they’ve given us permission.

“So we’ll wait and see who we have available over the next few days before we decide what choices we make in the midfield and the front area.”