MODEST Ayr United rising star Luke McCowan savoured a goal and assist against home town side Morton — but still wasn’t satisfied with his performance.

The young Greenock winger has been earning rave reviews for his stellar displays so far this season, including the league opener on Saturday.

The 21-year-old scored and set one up in the 4-2 win over the Ton at Somerset Park and savoured every moment.

Despite his efforts, the hard-working youngster doesn’t think it was his most polished performance. McCowan told the Tele: “It was good. I don’t think I played my best — but I’ll take my assist and I’ll take my goal, definitely.

“There’s no bad blood or anything but people jump on that — a local boy scoring against his local team. It’s just one of those things.

“I’d be playing the exact same way if it was any other team but I think because it is Morton you give that wee bit more, you put that wee bit more into the tackles and that wee bit more into the shots.”

The former Notre Dame High pupil is enjoying a fine run of form in the United team under ex-Ton boss Ian McCall.

He opened his league account with an assist and a goal in the Scottish Championship curtain-raiser against Morton having already chipped in with three goals and set up another three in the Betfred Cup group stages.

He admits he did enjoy the occasion — even when he was being teased by the away support, including some familiar faces from the Waterfront Leisure Complex where he used to work.

McCowan said: “It was brilliant.

“I saw a few of the lads from the pool sitting up in the stands so they shouted on me and they were nice and just waved.

“But as soon as the game started I had fans singing, ‘Luke McCowan, we know where you stay’, and I thought, ‘here we go’ but it was good banter and I was just laughing about it.”

The east end boy is flourishing at Somerset Park having worked his way through the youth ranks and into the first team. He was rewarded with a new two-year contract earlier this summer.

McCowan is now established as a regular starter under McCall but says he is not taking anything for granted and will continue grafting to ensure his run in the team continues.

He said: “I’m not complacent.

“It’s been good and I’ve hopefully nailed down a place in the team but I need to keep up the hard work.

“This is only the start, that’s the way I see it.

“I’ve done well in the Betfred Cup and the first league game. I just need to keep the form up and be consistent, that’s what I need to do.

“If I don’t be like that my form won’t keep up, so I’m keeping my head down.”