MORTON development squad defender Mark Russell has ended any doubts surrounding his future by signing the two-year extension tabled last month, the Tele can reveal.

The 18-year-old had originally asked for time in which to discuss the contract offer with his parents before agreeing to the terms.

And after some careful consideration, converted left-back Russell put pen to paper at Cappielow yesterday afternoon to tie him to the Ton until the summer of 2016.

Fellow teenagers Craig Knight, Jordan Cairnie, Cameron O’Neil, Lewis McIntyre, John Tennant, Dylan Stevenson, Thomas Orr, Steven Lamont, Aidan Ferris and Luke Irvine had already signed new deals.

And the addition of Russell, who made five starts and eight substitute appearances for the first-team last term, brings the total number of players in David Hopkin’s group up to 11. Paisley-born Russell made his top-team bow under Allan Moore as an injury-time sub in the 2-0 home win over Dumbarton last November. He was handed his first start in a Scottish Cup tie away at Inverness Caley Thistle by then-caretaker manager Hopkin and also featured regularly during Kenny Shiels’ brief spell as Ton boss.