MORTON striker Alexander Easdale has told of his pride at making his first start for his home town club - as he targets a regular place in the team next season.

The 22-year-old was given the responsibility of leading the line as a lone frontman in last Friday’s 3-0 defeat to Arbroath as the 2020/21 campaign came to an end.

He was included in the lineup as one of eight changes made by Dougie Imrie, as the Ton boss gave an outing to players who are signed for next season with Championship safety already secured.

Easdale, a product of the club’s youth academy, has seen his opportunities limited this term but hopes he will be given the chance to make an impression after getting his first full 90 minutes under his belt.

He told the Tele: "I was obviously disappointed with the result, but it was good to get my full debut, my first start in professional football."

“That was a good thing from an individual point of view.
“The performance and the result wasn’t the best but we tried our hardest and Arbroath are a really good team and you can’t fault them, they took their chances in the game.”
Easdale hopes his first full appearance can be a platform to build on as he looks to get more minutes under his belt when the new campaign kicks off in July.
He admits there is big difference between coming off the bench in the latter stages of a game to being pitched in from the start against seasoned, experienced pros.
The striker said: “I have come on as a sub a few times this season, it is a big difference from coming on as opposed to starting.
“The intensity is high as soon as the game starts, it’s a big difference as well when you have played youth academy or reserve football all of your life and then stepping up to the first team.
“It is a big difference in standards. I have got to keep working hard and hopefully get more chances next season.”
The lack of a reserve league has meant that players on the fringe of the first team have not been able to impress in the second string and push for a place, but Easdale says this just means he has to prove his worth on the training ground.
He said: “There have not been any reserve games, so it is just training and working as a hard as you can and hopefully catching the manager’s eye and getting a run out.
“I’ve come on a few times and started on Friday, now I have just got to keep going and see what happens.”
The youngster is preparing for more changes over the summer, with a whole host of players out of contract at Cappielow, meaning there could be a new look side in place next season.
Easdale believes that regardless of the personnel, the main thing is that the squad improves as a whole.
He said: “Last season we had a few boys that went out and a few that came in.
“That is part and parcel of football.
“If we keep the base of the team there so be it, if not we will need to bring boys in that can make us better.”