VETERAN Morton goalkeeper Jamie MacDonald has been sidelined by glove rival Ryan Mullen - but says that he is delighted to see the new number one grasp his chance with both hands.

Experienced shot-stopper MacDonald made a great start to the season after arriving at Cappielow in the summer, but injury allowed his then-deputy to replace him in the starting line-up and he has held on to that slot since, by racking up a series of clean sheets.

Although he has been displaced by him, MacDonald insists he is pleased for Mullen and feels that he is now finally living up to the hype that surrounded him when he first came through the ranks as a youngster at Celtic. 

But that won't stop 37-year-old MacDonald from trying to dislodge him one he has worked his way back to full fitness.

The former Hearts stopper told the Tele: "Ryan's a really talented boy, which you can see both in training and in games.

"He's been at Celtic because he's a fantastic young goalkeeper with a lot of great attributes. We've all been at that stage of our career where you're itching to get a run of games, and he's grabbed that opportunity with both hands.

"Let's not beat around the bush. I'd love to be playing week-in, week-out just now, unfortunately it's not happened through getting a few injuries and trying to rush myself back.

"Ryan's taken his chance and been a part of a really successful team, which is great to see.

"I've known him around eighteen months now and the rate he's brought his game on at has been nothing short of exceptional.

"Confidence is a massive thing obviously. It's huge in football for anyone, it doesn't matter how good you are, if you're confident then you'll play well and we're seeing that in him just now.

"People at Celtic would have had high hopes for him and he's had opportunities to go down south that haven't quite materialised. That could have set him back.

"But he is thriving just now and making it difficult for me to get back into the team when that time comes around.

"I'm looking forward to that fight though because that's why you play football at the end of the day. It's a team game, but you do want to play.

"I'm a teammate first and foremost and you want to help, but I'm looking forward to getting back training on the park and getting involved again in the coming weeks."

MacDonald says that Mullen, who recently agreed a new deal with Ton, is the perfect example of what many believe to be the modern day goalkeeper.

He said: "Ryan's good with his feet, he can command his box, the big spreading saves and things like that.

"That's the way he's been brought up, which is different from guys maybe in my era. He's done a fantastic job since getting into the team and they're now getting the results."