Lawrence Shankland is delighted to have swapped a relegation scrap for a promotion push after crossing the Renfrewshire derby divide to join Morton until the end of the season.

The striker was frustrated with the lack of playing opportunities coming his way at St Mirren, so while he is aware that he may take some stick for the move, he says it was an easy decision to make.

Now the on-loan Aberdeen man wants to find his scoring touch again to help Morton in their bid to gatecrash the play-offs at the end of the season.

“A lot of people have mentioned the rivalry but at the end of the day I had to get myself a club and St Mirren said they didn’t see me playing much more, and I was getting frustrated that I wasn’t playing,” Shankland said.

“To be honest, there was nothing really going wrong at St Mirren, they just weren’t picking up results but obviously the gaffer will have his own ideas and he’s brought in a couple of players in the last few days, so hopefully that can turn it for them.

“The best thing was for me to move on and thankfully Morton wanted to take me. And I’ve swapped a relegation battle for a promotion challenge so that’s worked out quite well!

“Obviously where Morton were in the league was a big influence on why I wanted to go to them, and hopefully that’s something I can be involved in and help them into the play-offs at the end of the season.

“They are up there just now and that’s not by accident, and hopefully I can come in and help push them towards that.”

Shankland is already familiar with the strikers he is likely to be playing alongside in the longer term at Cappielow, having played with both Gary Oliver and Jai Quitongo in the past.

“I know those boys from growing up because we’re round about the same age,” he said. “Gary in particular, I played with him a few years ago when we were at Rangers together, and I know Jai from when he was at Aberdeen for a bit a couple of years ago.

“It will be good to link up with them because they are quality footballers, but it’s not just them, the full team are top quality so I’m looking forward to it.

“One of my main objectives is to get myself back on the scoresheet on a regular basis again, but the main thing for me is just to get back among a team again and get more game time, because I haven’t played all that much in the past six months and that’s been frustrating.

“I need to make sure that if I get the chance I take it, and hopefully if I’m doing well for the team then the goals will come from that.”

Shankland may make his debut today against Raith Rovers with Quitongo still out through injury, and he is looking forward to testing himself against tough opposition.

A win for the Cappielow side would open up a nine-point gap on the visitors, who are currently sitting in fifth-place just outside of the play-off zone.

“It will be a tough game, it always is against Raith but hopefully the home advantage can help us to get the points,” he said.

“I’ve been in Thursday and Friday training with the boys and they’ve all been brand new and very welcoming so that’s been great. I’m looking forward to the Raith game.”