DEREK McInnes made his first start for Morton just under 25 years ago in a match which has since turned out to be the Cappielow club's last in Scotland's top flight to date.

The midfielder was a raw teenager taking his first steps in a distinguished career which would eventually lead to boyhood heroes Rangers, the English Premiership and two full caps for Scotland.

At 16 years and 307 days old, McInnes, who had come on as a sub against Dundee United the previous week, was handed the number 10 shirt for the last game of the 1987-88 season.

Ton were already relegated and completed a disappointing season with a 3-1 loss to Hibs at Easter Road, in a match made memorable by the fact keeper Andy Goram scored for the Edinburgh side.

But while McInnes struggles to get his head around the fact Ton haven't been back in the Premier League in the intervening period, he believes this season is their best chance of doing so since then.

He told the Tele: "My first game for Morton was in the Premier Division against Dundee United, and my first full game was against Hibs at Easter Road.

"It was great to get involved that season. Allan McGraw showed a lot of faith in me to put me in the team at that age.

"There were some good experienced players and it was a great grounding for me training with those guys.

"It was exciting playing in the Premier League. It was a big ask because a lot of the team were part-time with only a couple of full-timers and a lot of youngsters.

"For that squad it was probably a bridge too far and we got relegated that year - but we would never have imagined it would take so long to get back there.

"Morton have been out of the top league for too long.

"There is still a lot to be done this season but the club are in a really strong position and it seems as good an opportunity as any to get back up."

The Cappielow club have only had one realistic crack at winning promotion back to the Premier Division since dropping back down to the First Division quarter of a century ago.

They came within a hair's breadth of winning a return in season 1995-96 when they went into a final-day sell-out against Dundee United with a chance of taking the title or a play-off place.

Ton fell just short in the end, drawing 2-2 to finish third, and then-manager McGraw recently said that McInnes' �260,000 move to Rangers in November of that campaign proved pivotal.

McInnes explained: "There were a few clubs wanting to sign me and I nearly left in the summer before that.

"I signed for another year, but always on the understanding that if an offer came in then there would be an opportunity to go.

"A lot of my Morton team-mates had made big moves prior to that - Alex Mathie, David Hopkin, Brian Reid, Alan Mahood - and you're starting to think you might have missed your opportunity.

"It was a very exciting Morton squad that year and we did feel optimistic after the first 10 games or so that we could get promotion. When the Rangers move came about, I was torn between staying and trying to win the league - I was desperate for Morton to get promoted, I really was - or taking an opportunity that might never come along again.

"I have to stress, I was really happy at Morton; I wasn't agitating to go. But when the chance came to go and get involved in Champions League football and play in cup finals, I couldn't knock that back. If Morton were going to win the league that season then it was always going to take a real collective effort to get there.

"I don't think you can really say one player leaving made all the difference. We had a lot of good players at that time and in the previous seasons."

Fast forward to the present day, 13 February 2013, just three days before Morton face title rivals Partick Thistle on Saturday in a huge top of the table clash at Cappielow.

It is a match McInnes will be attending with his sons and one he believes could have a significant say in where the First Division championship ends up come May.

He said: "There's obviously only three points to play for just like any other game, but I think the winner of the league will come from either of these two teams, Morton or Thistle.

"There's a lot at stake, a chance to put down a marker and for Morton to extend their lead over Thistle to 11 points - so it's a very big game.

"The Morton fans can play their part. They will turn out in big numbers and get right behind the team as they always do and that will be a huge boost to the players. Thistle will bring a large support with them, so there should be a big crowd and that will help add to the occasion. Cappielow is a very special place on those sorts of days."

Even though he is good friends with Partick interim boss Alan Archibald, a former team-mate at Dundee United, McInnes hopes his former club can do the business.

He added: "I live about 20 minutes away from Cappielow and I'm actually coming to the game with my boys. We're really looking forward to it.

"I haven't had the chance to see Morton this season, but I know a lot about the team having played with and managed a few of them at St Johnstone.

"Peter MacDonald, Kevin Rutkiewicz, Martin Hardie and Willie Dyer are all great boys with good experience.

"Morton have a lot of experience through the team and a lot of players who've already won the title. They know what's required to get over the line and that could prove quite significant.

"I'm pals with Alan Archibald at Partick, and it's a hard one to predict - but I always want my former teams to do well, especially Morton.

"I have a lot to thank them for. They worked for hours and hours on me to make me the player I became and gave me my chance in the game.

"Nothing would please me more than seeing Morton doing well. I want nothing but success for the club. Hopefully this year can be their year, the start of something, and they can go up and establish themselves in the SPL."