DECLAN McMANUS rattled in 20 goals for Morton's title-winning team last term, but he says fans are yet to see the best of him this time around.

The 21-year-old was a target for Jim Duffy in the summer when his contract at Aberdeen expired, but the lure of England proved too great and he joined League 2 side Fleetwood Town instead.

The move didn't quite go to plan and after featuring in just nine games at Town, he jumped at the chance of another loan spell at Cappielow.

“I'm still not back to full fitness but I'm enjoying my football again,” said McManus who started brightly in the 1-0 defeat by Hibernian in midweek before tiredness took hold.

“It's a big step up from Scottish League 1 and I'm playing at roughly the same level down south, but it's just about trying to get my fitness back.”

The defeat by Hibs was Morton's fourth in a row at Cappielow but McManus sees signs that the run won't last much longer. Lee Kilday gift-wrapped Anthony Stokes's 47th-minute winner when he passed straight to John McGinn who swiftly capitalised by teeing up the on-loan Celtic striker but McManus refused to criticise his team-mate.

“I think we gave a good account of ourselves in both games. I don't think Hibs found it particularly easy. It was an unlucky mistake by Lee and they scored from it but that's what happens in these games against good teams you make a mistake and you get punished for it.

Morton's play-off hopes took a dent with the defeat but McManus is confident the club can still have reason to smile this season. They are only four points behind Raith who occupy the final play-off spot and McManus believes Morton can enjoy a prolonged run in the William Hill Scottish Cup which continues this weekend when Duffy's side travel to the Borders to face League 2 high-fliers Annan Athletic.

“It's a big chance for us,” he added. “Every so-called smaller team wants to go on a good cup run. It's a great chance for us to get into a quarter-final but as you saw from Annan in the last round against Hamilton, it's not going to be easy for us especially down there. We need to play our game and hopefully we can get through to the last eight and maybe get a home tie and that would set us up for a chance at the semi-finals. It's definitely something that we're looking forward to.”