MORTON legend Janne Lindberg says moving to Greenock would be a great move for Finnish players wanting a big career break.

The ex-Finland international secured his first switch abroad from his homeland back in 1994 when he made the move to Cappielow with international team-mate Marko Rajamäki.

The former Ton midfielder spent three years in Scotland with Morton and established himself as a regular in Finland’s international set-up. 

Morton manager Jonatan Johansson has previously told the Tele he is looking to his homeland for signings in the summer transfer window.

Lindberg says most people in Finland know about Scottish football through Mixu Paatelainen, with his spells as a player and manager of Dundee United, Hibs, Kilmarnock and Aberdeen, as well as Ton manager Johansson from his days with Rangers as a player and coach.

Lindberg says Scotland is sometimes overlooked by Finnish players in favour of big money moves to countries such as England or Germany.

But he insists it’s the best move abroad for up and coming young players, and clubs like Morton would be great for their development.

He told the Tele: “We have players who didn’t understand how high the level is in Scottish football and they underestimate it.

“We can see the English Premier League here on TV as well as the La Liga and the Bundesliga, and they underestimate Scottish football.

“Most of the people maybe only know Rangers or Celtic, and maybe Dundee United because Mixu Paatelainen had been there for many years. With JJ coaching in Scotland recently, more people will begin to open their eyes to it a bit more.

“That’s one place I think young players should go out of Finland.

“When they want to go out the first step they should take is to go to Scotland. They should start getting success there.

“Then they have better possibilities to move for example to England, because the window is bigger and the level of the teams is good.”

More recently Rangers players Glen Kamara and Alfredo Morelos have come out of Finland to impress in the Scottish top flight.

Kamara first made his mark at Dundee after signing back in 2017, making his first international start later that year, and he also secured a move to Rangers in January.

Meanwhile, striker Morelos was at HJK Helsinki before moving to the Ibrox side, where he has also worked his way into the Colombian international fold.

Lindberg added: “Morelos has done well in Scotland. I think he will get the move somewhere else.

“When he was here he scored a lot of goals and that’s good for people to see players in Finland can play well in Scotland also.

“I would like to see more Finnish people think that Scotland is the better step for when they’re coming out rather than going to the Netherlands.”

Lindberg is returning to Greenock next month for the club’s sportman’s dinner on Saturday April 13.

For more information contact hospitality executive Lesley Ann Webb by calling 01475 723571 or emailing la@gmfc.net

Lindberg will also be joined by former Wales, Aston Villa and Liverpool striker Dean Saunders, after dinner speaker Sheriff Lindsay Wood and host Peter Martin.