JACK Iredale insists a conversation with Jim Duffy convinced him that he can make the most of his return from his Queen’s Park loan spell after penning a new deal at the club.

Iredale put pen to paper on an extension at Cappielow that will keep him in Greenock until June 2018 after Duffy watched footage of the 21-year-old starring for the Spiders in League One action.

The Aussie native made 11 league starts after moving to Hampden and did enough for Duffy to offer him new terms on a contract — which was the player’s number one priority when initially shipped out to Gus MacPherson’s outfit.

Iredale told the Tele: “I’m very pleased to sign my new deal and it was pretty much the next goal I set after signing six months ago, to get that extension.

“The first thing I wanted to do was sign a new deal and I’m happy to have done that until the end of the season.

“The gaffer said to me if I go out and do well on loan that can only stand me in good stead. 

“He’s been in contact with Gus MacPherson a lot and he’s seen a few of the games as well, so I knew if I got my head down and worked hard then I’d be rewarded for that. And I have been, which is great.

“I didn’t quite know how close the gaffer would be watching, but I did find out that he had watched a few games so that was reassuring while I was out on loan.

“I definitely learned a lot playing in a competitive division like League One with Queen’s Park and playing at Hampden every second week. 

“It’s a bittersweet moment to be leaving there and coming back to Morton - but I’m looking forward to the challenge.”

Iredale was delighted with his spell in Glasgow and learned plenty of lessons playing first-team football in a competitive division. And he insists even in defeat he was able to pick up valuable experience.

He said: “One of the first games I was there finished a 5-0 loss to Raith Rovers at home but I still managed to get man of the match, so that was good. The way the gaffer was talking to me before I went out I knew if I played well I’d get somewhere with it.”

“My time at Queen’s Park was great, that’s the whole reason I left Australia to get first-team football. 

“I can’t really complain, I enjoy playing football every day and I’m just looking forward to trying to prove myself.”