MORTON boss Dougie Imrie says his side are feeling the full effects of missing key performers after slipping to ninth in the Championship.

The Ton chief says that a series of injuries which followed his team's good display against Rangers in the cup was a turning point.

The selection crisis will not be easing any time soon, after Tyler French and Darragh O’Connor were both forced off against Dunfermline on saturday.

It could force the Ton boss into the loan market this week looking for cover.

Imrie told the Tele: “At the start of the season the team was settled and we got through to the knockout stages of the League Cup, something we didn’t do last year.

“We started the league off with a fantastic win over Ayr United, we then go to Ibrox and put in a fantastic performance against Rangers and then we start to really pick up the injuries.

“Jack Baird was already out, George Oakley got injured after the Rangers' game, Jai Quitingo picked up an injury, as did Grant Gillespie, Robbie Crawford and now Tyler and Darragh.

“These are key performers for the team and right now they can’t perform because it's difficult once you pick up an injury to get back up to full speed.

“You start the season by going through a pre-season and you’re flying and then you miss a week’s training, and people don’t realise it takes a month of training to make up for that missed week.

“That’s just where we’re at at the moment.

"But I’ll not shy away from criticism, my players just aren’t getting the reward for the work they’ve put in.”