REECE Lyon hopes to stay at Morton for ‘as long as possible’ after an ‘amazing’ breakthrough year with the first team.

The 18-year-old has played 11 times for the Ton this season, scoring in his full debut against Queen of the South back in October. 

After picking up an injury in that game and failing to impress against Partick Thistle on his return to the starting line-up in December, the midfielder found himself on the bench for several weeks.

He made a return to the first 11 against Queen of the South, impressing in a midfield three and earned himself another start against Falkirk last Friday.

Lyon says he is enjoying a run in the first team.

Manager Jonatan Johansson told the Tele earlier this week he was keen to sign the youngster for next season, with his current contract due to finish at the end of the campaign.

Lyon told the Tele: “It’s been amazing, I didn’t expect to play at all to be honest.

“I didn’t even expect to play with the under-20s last year when I came up from the under-17s, as it was only my second year. It’s been really good so far.

“I’m still young and I’ll bide my time with Morton.

“Hopefully I’m here for as long as possible. I enjoy it here and I’m enjoying my football.

“I just want to play. That’s all I really care about at the moment, I’m not too bothered about contracts - I just want to play for Morton.”

After the Partick Thistle game the manager spoke to Lyon afterwards saying he felt he wasn’t yet back to 100 per cent.

The central midfielder agreed with him, and is glad he has been given another chance to impress.

He added: “I didn’t do as well as I should have done against Partick and I got left out, and rightly so. 

“Because there were so many games coming up and the older boys couldn’t play every game I had a wee shot and knew I was going to get a chance again. The gaffer gave me it and I think I did alright.

“I let myself down in that Partick game. I was slow and off the pace but the gaffer gave me a chance again and I felt I took it.

“One performance good or bad can affect you. I had one bad one against Partick and then one good against Queen of the South last week and I managed to play against Falkirk on the telly.” 

After impressing against Queens and the Bairns at Cappielow last week, Lyon hopes he can start again for the Ton against Ross County tomorrow, and says Ton are looking for a marked improvement on their last visit to Dingwall, when they were comfortably beaten 5-0.

He said: “The two games last week were good on a personal note.

“I felt we should have won against Falkirk, we deserved it more and they were down to 10 men, but that makes it harder sometimes to attack them, as they just sit back.

“I was on the bench at County last time and I didn’t get on.

“They gave us a doing that game, they’re top of the league for a reason but after the last few games the boys have been playing well so we will hopefully head up there with some confidence.”