CONNOR Bell hopes to be involved in Morton’s clash with league leaders Ayr United tomorrow after recovering from the ankle injury that sidelined him for three months. 

Bell was relieved to get much-needed game time after making a return for Morton Reserves against Motherwell on Monday.

The forward has been out of competitive action since August, making only three appearances for the Greenock side since signing this summer.

The former Inverness Caley Thistle striker was due back in October, just before the away game against his former team at the Caledonian Stadium after playing in a closed-doors friendly against St Mirren days before.

But after damaging his ankle again the next day in training, it put his return date back even further.
Bell is hoping he has finally turned a corner, and can target a return as soon as possible.

He told the Tele: “It’s been a bit frustrating since I’ve got here, it’s been stop-start and it was good to get some minutes under my belt, and it was just good to be 
back.

“I did it twice in training. I didn’t think much of it and it just swelled really badly afterwards.

“I trained and got back fine. We played a closed-doors game against St Mirren and it was fine. 

“I was training and I was hoping to be involved in the next game against Inverness, and then I had a setback again.

“It was an hour just to ease me back in, my sharpness isn’t there but I’m back in training with the rest of the lads now so hopefully it’s just a matter of time.

“If I have no problems with it this week hopefully I can be involved again in training and again on Saturday.”

Twenty-two-year-old Bell says it’s an unusual scenario after playing regular football in recent seasons.

The striker made 35 appearances for the Caley Jags last season, scoring seven times for the Highland outfit.

He added: “I’m used to playing, so it’s been a bit of a change for me. But I’ve just got to get myself fit and prove myself in training.

“We’ve taken a bit more time with it this time as we didn’t want to rush it.”