Jack: Spiders loan spell is great opportunity

Defender Jack Iredale hopes to use his loan spell with Queen’s Park to convince manager Jim Duffy that he deserves a contract extension at Cappielow.

When Australian centre-half Iredale originally signed his six-month deal in July, Greenock gaffer Duffy made clear that he was one for the future and farming him out to gain experience was an option.

The 21-year-old completed a deadline day move to the Spiders and hopes to impress with Gus MacPherson’s League One outfit in order to extend his Morton stay.

Iredale, whose loan runs until 1 January 2018, told gmfc.net: “The gaffer pulled me aside yesterday, on the deadline day, and said Gus MacPherson had asked for me to go on loan there.

“It’s a really good opportunity for me to go and get game time in a competitive league where I think I’ll definitely improve playing first-team football.

“The gaffer [Jim Duffy] said it would be a really good place for me to go and develop, because I’m obviously down the pecking order behind Ricki [Lamie] and Tam [O’Ware], who are both doing well.

“Going to Queen’s Park can almost put the ball in my court because if I go and do well, I can try and prove that I’m good enough to get that extension I’m hoping to get.”

Playing for Queen’s Park presents Iredale with an opportunity to perform at Hampden every second week, and the Australian’s relatives have made him fully aware of how fortunate he is.

He added: “All of my Scottish family and friends are telling me how lucky I am. I’m not quite sure I understand the magnitude of playing at Hampden yet but I’m looking forward to it, for sure.”

Image: David Bell