MORTON have sent a trio of talented youth-team graduates out on loan to junior sides until the end of the season in order to aid in their development.

Right-back Iain Beattie, 17, has joined Neilston Juniors while versatile 18-year-old defender Martin Maguire has linked up with local side Port Glasgow.

Central defender Euan Blair, who may be familiar to some Ton fans, having featured in pre-season friendlies against Rapid Bucharest and Campbeltown, has joined Hurlford United.

Seventeen-year-old Blair has already featured for the Ayrshire outfit - where his grandfather also played - impressing in a 5-2 win over Whitletts Victoria.

The players train with David Hopkin's reserve squad but have not seen much action this season and will remain with their new sides until the end of the season.

Hopkin said: "For Iain, Martin and Euan, game time with the reserves was restricted so far this season due to the strength of the current first-team squad.

"We believe that, for these boys, spending a few months in the reserves with minimal game time is never an ideal situation.

"The junior game will provide a steep learning curve, in terms of the physical nature of the matches, and will prove important in their development as players."