JACK Iredale admitted it’s been tough since he’s been out of the Morton starting line-up – but says he is determined to work his way back into the fold.

Manager Ray McKinnon signed Rory McKeown three weeks ago and has started the Northern Irishman at left-back in the two league games since.

Signing direct competition for his position, as well as being up against Lewis Strapp when he returns from injury, was hard to take at first for Iredale.

But the Greenock-born Australian says he can’t complain when the team is coming up with the goods on the pitch.

He told the Tele: “It was a bit tough to take at the start. I haven’t played for the last two league games but the squad depth we’ve got is a positive. The boys got through a difficult game against Alloa.

"They were solid, got the shut-out and got the win, so I can’t really complain too much about not playing when we are keeping clean sheets.

“I’m frustrated not to play, but the bigger picture is that the team is doing well, and all I can do is support the boys who are playing and at the same time try and perform in training and be ready if called upon.”

Iredale’s last start was against Dumbarton in the Irn-Bru Cup just under two weeks ago.

McKinnon opted to change his entire team from the 2-0 win over Alloa Athletic several days prior, with a number of players making their Morton debuts.

The 22-year-old, who was originally signed as a centre-back under manager Jim Duffy before being converted to the left-back role, moved back to his old position to partner Kerr Waddell in defence.

Iredale admits he put pressure on himself to impress as he looked to give McKinnon food for thought when he selects his team to face Ross County today.

He added: “We had a relatively inexperienced side out so I felt I had to step up and try and create something.

“It was a conscious thing.

“I knew I had played more games than some of the other boys on the pitch, the debut lads and it was Kyle Thomson’s first game as well. I knew that I had a bit more experience and that I had to try and step up and perform.”

Iredale has also filled in at left-wing back as well as on the left-wing against Partick Thistle in the Betfred Cup group stages.

While he’s happy to fill in where required, he still hopes to win back the left-back spot.

He added: “I played centre-half against Dumbarton, and we played a bounce game against each other and I played at centre-half again.

“I’m able to cover multiple positions if need be but I think I would still like to play left-back, I feel it’s my best 
position. It’s a long season as well, everyone is going to need to play when called upon with injuries and suspensions, so as long as I keep myself fit then you never know what can happen.”