STUART FINDLAY says he would rather go out on loan for a second season than face life as a Celtic reserve.

The outstanding central defensive prospect has been at Morton since the end of January and has played 11 games for Kenny Shiels' relegated Championship side.

The candid centre-back has no doubt his game has benefited from first-team action in the Scottish second tier.

And after the hurly-burly of a Championship relegation dog-fight the former Celtic Youth team skipper is desperate not to head back to reserve and youth action.

Findlay said: "I have a year-and-a-half of my Celtic deal left but I feel I have come on leaps and bounds with Morton by playing in the Championship.

"My positional sense has improved so much: when you play youth football you get away with so much more.

"You could get caught in possession but get away with it, even if you were too high up.

"But in the Championship there is no hiding place and you have to make sure you get things right. So I feel like I am a lot more switched on because of my experience with Morton."

He says he is happy to go where manager Neil Lennon sends him, including Morton again, but adds: "Every player, especially if you have supported Celtic since you were a wee boy, is desperate to play for the Celtic first team and the best team in Scotland.

"That's a no-brainer but the other side of the coin is that I don't want to go back to play youth football."

The 18-year-old added: "Kenny Shiels is a great gaffer … I have learned an awful lot from Kenny."