REGHAN Tumilty has told his Morton team-mates they need to live up to the hype surrounding their clash with Falkirk if they are to take all three points on Saturday. 

Former Ton manager Ray McKinnon makes his first return to Cappielow this weekend since his controversial departure to the Falkirk Stadium in August.

Morton fans have made their feelings known on social media about McKinnon’s shock decision to quit Cappielow and Tumilty is aware how much it will mean for their favourites to get one over the Bairns and their former boss.

The right-back spent last season on loan at Falkirk, making 20 appearances under Paul Hartley after he made the switch in November from Ross County.

Tumilty says he enjoyed his time at the club, but he hopes he can endear himself to the Ton fans by helping them to a win over his old team and continue the Bairns’ poor start to the campaign.

He told the Tele: “The Morton fans have really hyped it up.

“We need to put on a good performance and get the win for them.

“I really enjoyed my time at Falkirk and my experience there, if it wasn’t for my time there I wouldn’t be at Morton now.

“It was a mutual thing with me leaving. 

“I didn’t have any extensive talks at the end and Paul Hartley signed another player, so it was just the way it worked out to be honest.

“Last season we just about got there, but this season it’s really a bit of a shock as they are such a big team but they’ll have fans that will back them.”

Tumilty will have to work his way back into the starting line-up. The 21-year-old was dropped for the first time since joining the club back in July, and is the club’s only out-and-out right-back.

Jonatan Johansson opted for Lee Kilday in his position against Inverness Caley Thistle in Ton’s previous outing at the start of the month.

While Tumilty was upset to miss out, he’s keen to work his way back into the manager’s thoughts as soon as possible.

He added: “It was the first game I’ve missed since signing, so I was a bit gutted. But competition is healthy and if the team do well I’m all for it.

“He mentioned it to me on the day before and I just took it on the chin, you just have to work hard and try and impress in training and hopefully I can work my way back in against Falkirk.”