Morton’s hat-trick hero Stefan McCluskey says that his three-goal haul against Annan Athletic in the Scottish Cup was down to boss Jim Duffy letting him off the leash.

With difficult fixtures against Hibs and Rangers preceding the visit to League Two Annan at Galabank, McCluskey has had his hands full defensively in the last couple of weeks.

However, given licence to push forward from his station on the wing on Saturday, McCluskey took full advantage to help fire ‘Ton to a comfortable 4-1 victory.

The winger opened the scoring midway through the first half before Joe McKee’s goal on the stroke of half-time gave the Championship side a two-goal cushion.

Two more from McCluskey after the break sealed Morton’s progression before a late Annan consolation, and he admitted that he had revelled in the more attacking remit he was given by his boss.

“The manager says that we have to get more goals,” he said.

“In the last few games we’ve been defending a lot, but today he let us go free.

“Me and Bobby Barr in the wide positions in particular didn’t really have to track back as much, and luckily enough I’ve managed to get three goals by going forward.”

The win puts Morton into the quarter finals of the Scottish Cup for the first time since 1999, as their stellar season continues.

After getting a taste of big fixtures in the League Cup, with Premiership sides Motherwell and St Johnstone both visiting Cappielow, manager Duffy is eagerly awaiting the draw which will take place at Hampden later today.

He said: “We got to the quarter finals of the League Cup and unfortunately lost out to St Johnstone, so to get to the quarter finals of the Scottish Cup is fantastic for the players and fantastic for the supporters and everyone is looking forward to the draw now on Monday.

“We played well and thoroughly deserved the win. At 4-0 they had a couple of chances but in general I think we deserved the victory.

“It’s terrific for the club and the players to be in the last eight.”