TEENAGE goalkeeper Jamie McGowan says he is still trying to take in the surreal month he has just experienced at Morton.

Over the course of the last four weeks, the 17-year-old was named as a substitute for the first team against then-league leaders Forfar Athletic before signing an 18-month full-time contract days later.

Within a fortnight he had made his top-team bow as a second half substitute in a winning effort against Stenhousemuir.

He was back between the sticks for his first-ever start seven days later as the Ton crashed out of the Scottish Cup at Lowland League Spartans.

And an emotional month was wrapped up on Monday night when he received the first red card of his career in an Under-20s match against Ayr United.

It has been a rollercoaster ride from which Scotland Under-15 cap McGowan has still not managed to catch his breath, but he admits he wouldn’t change the experience for the world.

He told the Tele: “It’s been surreal, a strange time for me. I would never have imagined all this happening and so quickly after signing at the start of the season.

“It’s been an up and down period. Brilliant at some points, disappointing at others, and quite scary at times as well. I was so low after leaving St Mirren after all that time there, but as soon as I came to Morton it went straight out of my head. I thought: ‘I love it here. This is brilliant.’ “I just had to fight for a contract. I got the amateur deal and then they gave me the opportunity of the professional contract. That was my first goal, to get the professional contract, and then the next goal was to get on bench – and I achieved both of those in the same week! I think it was a week and a half later I came on for Gats [Derek Gaston] in the second half of the match against Stenhousemuir. It’s all been so quick.

“On the Sunday and Monday after the Stenny game, I was quite nervous thinking: ‘I’m going to play on Saturday [against Spartans].’ “It’s not that I didn’t want to play. I was just dead nervous for it and then obviously the feeling of excitement came into it because this is what I want to do so it was a great chance for me.

“It was also great excitement when it came to Saturday but that turned to disappointment at the defeat mixed with a wee bit of pride that I’d started for the first team.

“I thought I did all right personally but I was still mainly disappointed because of the result and going out of the cup.

“Then on Monday I felt as if I started off quite well for the Under-20s but after one moment of madness I was back down to disappointment. I came out at the striker’s feet and he went in late and connected with my cheek and my neck. I just reacted and had a wee swear at the ref.

“It was a rush of blood and as soon as I said it, I would have done anything to take it back. I’m usually quite level-headed; it was out of character for me.

“I let the frustration get the better of me and the ref deemed it as a red card. I wouldn’t disagree or argue with the decision.

“I was a wee bit upset in the dressing room and Nico Caraux was talking to me and telling me it’s okay to make a mistake — to do something one time and not repeat it — and learn from it.

“If someone had told me everything that has happened between leaving St Mirren at the end of the season and now, I would have been amazed. It’s like something you’d see on the telly.

“It’s all been a brilliant education for me in a way, because I’ve already learned so much and gained a lot of valuable experience even though I’m only 17.” With Derek Gaston and Nicolas Caraux still struggling with injury, the former St Mirren youth’s wild ride might not be finished quite yet.

He added: “I got a good training session in on Tuesday and I was feeling a bit better after that, and I’ll just need to prepare as if I’m playing against Stranraer on Saturday and see what happens.

“I’m not sure what’s going to happen and whether Gats is going to be fit to play again. I do know he’s been in doing treatment with Aly [physio Alyson Fielding].

“If I’m needed on Saturday, hopefully I can experience another high with a good performance and a good result for the team.

“Either way, I’ll definitely have the Scottish Youth Cup tie with the Under-20s on Sunday. I could have two games in 24 hours.

“They are two big matches: away to Stranraer in the league, which is a tough place to go, and then Queen’s Park in the cup.

“That’s where you learn the most, playing in those games.”