DEREK Gaston admits it’s strange without a recognised understudy on the Morton bench after Ross Doohan returned to Celtic following a loan stint earlier this season.

Doohan headed back to Glasgow last week, and with Jamie McGowan set to undergo surgery on a dislocated shoulder, Ton have had to name their development squad stopper Daniel Farrell on the bench.

But Gaston says he’s not too fussed about who he has as back-up, as long as he stays fit and keeps himself out of any disciplinary trouble until boss Jim Duffy can arrange a deal to bring in a new keeper.

He told the Tele: “It strange having no experienced sub goalkeeper on the bench.

“But it doesn’t make too much difference to me who is on the bench as long as I’m playing.

“Ross has been here all season so for him to not be here anymore is a bit odd. 

“It’s been young Danny who has come in but as long as I keep doing what I’m doing and feel like I’m contributing then it’s fine with me who’s in the dugout. 

“As long as I manage to stay injury free and don’t get sent off.”

Gaston has been chatting to Farrell throughout the week after the 18-year-old was part of the first-team squad for the first time in his career against Brechin last Saturday. 

He says it’s important to settle the youngster’s nerves and keep him grounded. 

He added: “I’ve been talking to Danny all week and sometimes he can be a bit nervous because he’s training with the first team for the first time, so it’s about telling him to relax. 

“It’s a new environment with new faces and it can be older guys maybe shouting at him if he’s doing something wrong. 

“It takes a bit of getting used to. We’ve got to try and keep him level headed and not to get too excited. 

“I imagine he would’ve been quite excited being in the squad for the first time last weekend and there will have been nerves.

“David Wylie has the job of making sure that Danny is prepared mentally as well as physically just in case he’s required.”

Gaston added: “Unfortunately he’s been thrown into this situation is because ideally it would no doubt have been a few months down the line or maybe even a wee bit longer. 

“But with circumstances these things happen and he’ll learn from it. It’ll help him moving forward, where he’ll feel more at ease with the first-team and that can only help him in his development.”