REECE Lyon has revealed he only found out the day before that he was in the Morton matchday squad — and the midfielder hopes he can remain a permanent player in the first team.

After impressing against Celtic Reserves, scoring a goal to help the Ton second team to secure a 3-1 win, the 18-year-old’s performance didn’t go unnoticed, with manager Jonatan Johansson watching the game.

The Finn informed the Greenock-born player he was to be in the squad on Friday for their game against Ayr United.

Lyon got his chance at Cappielow, coming off the bench after 52 minutes to replace the injured Michael Tidser.

It was Lyon’s second first-team appearance, with his first coming against Dumbarton in the Challenge Cup earlier this season.

Despite the disappointing result against the Honest Men, Lyon says the day will hold a special place in his heart, running out onto the Cappielow pitch in front of the home fans.

He told the Tele: “I got a goal against Celtic and I don’t score so often so it was good to get one.

“Then it all happened so fast. I only found out I was in the squad from the manager on the Friday morning.

“I came in and looked at my top in the changing rooms on Saturday. 

“I was named on the bench and early in the second half I was on.

“It was just a surprise to be included at all, and to even get on was even more of a surprise.

“I was a bit nervous coming on, my dad and my step mum came down to watch me as well.

“On a personal note I preferred Saturday much more to the Dumbarton game because it was at Cappielow, all the Morton fans were there, it was a league game and it meant more.

“The result didn’t go our way but it was good on a personal level, but I want to try and get in and about the first team a bit more, and to try and get a start and cement myself in the squad."

The midfielder has been involved more with the first team in training under Johansson, with the former Rangers player and Finland assistant manager bringing him in to work with the main squad for two days a week since his arrival last month.

Having only been at the club for a short period of time, it’s encouraging for Lyon and the rest of the reserve players that the new manager is willing to show his faith in the youngsters.

Lyon added: “The new manager has been great with me and he’s given me my chance, he’s had his faith in me and brought me in at 1-1 in an important game against the team at the top of the league. He’s been brilliant with me.

“I feel I’m at that level now, I’ve been at under-20s for a year now and I had a sniff last year in training and this year I’ve kicked on a bit.

“At the start I wasn’t really involved this season, but I’ve been training twice of the four days each week. It’s been good.

“I want to just keep improving and to try and learn as much as I can from the first team and learn off the more experienced players.”