MORTON skipper Grant Gillespie insists his immediate return to first team action isn't going to be an automatic foregone conclusion.

The midfielder has just returned to the squad after being sidelined for weeks by a groin injury he sustained in training.

The 32-year-old has made a couple of outings off the substitutes bench as he continues to try and get back up to speed.

Gillespie's absence was cushioned by Ton boss Dougie Imrie when he secured the arrivals of both Iain Wilson and Alan Power, who can both cover the deep-lying role that the former Accies and Queen's Park man made his own last term.

The captain says he'll now have to prove to Imrie that he's worthy of a starting place.

And he is also determined to have a sustained run clear of any further fitness problems.

Gillespie told the Tele: "I hope that I can stay fit between now and the end of the season in order to help the team as much as I can.

"There's a lot of competition here now.

"You've got Alan who came in this summer, Cameron Blues can play in that deeper role as well, as can Robbie Crawford and Iain.

"There's good competition and just because I'm the captain that doesn't mean that I'm the first person on the team sheet.

"I need to earn that place in the side.

"So it's important for me to get as fit as I can as quickly as possible, so I can show that I'm worthy of that place in the starting eleven."

Gillespie admits that it has been a relief to be able to pull on the boots again after his frustrating lay-off.

But he is now eager to try and help Ton out of the rut that has seen them fall to ninth in the Championship.

Gillespie said: "Being back out on the park has been brilliant, even if it's been cameos and we've not managed to get that win yet.

"It's been good to get my eye back in, but it's all about getting results on the park now."