Morton’s on-loan attacker Aidan Nesbitt is ready to return to Celtic a better player, but not before he has given his all to help the Cappielow club in their promotion push.

The hot prospect has been a regular for Jim Duffy’s side this season, and provided the assist last weekend for Kudus Oyenuga’s winner as they continued their fine form with a triumph over Falkirk.

That victory took the ‘Ton level on points with the Bairns in second place in the Championship, and Nesbitt is confident that they can maintain their challenge at the top end of the table.

“The lads have been different class welcoming me in and making me a part of things,” Nesbitt said.

“And they have been brilliant on the pitch as well. We are in a good position but it is important not to let up now and undo all that we have achieved to this point.

“We have a massive game on Saturday against Dunfermline, and for now, that is all we are thinking about, but obviously we know we are in a good place at the minute.

“If I’m being honest, I probably didn’t expect to come here and be involved in a promotion challenge, but that is where we are and it’s not only the position we are in that has exceeded my expectations.

“The whole experience has been great for me, and I can’t thank the boys and the manager enough.”

A season in the rough and tumble of the Championship may not appeal to everyone inside the relatively comfortable bubble of the development team at a top club, but Nesbitt has relished the experience.

Not only has the opposition toughened him up, but the chance to play in different positions has also led to him becoming a more versatile player.

“This division isn’t for the faint-hearted,” he said. “There are really good teams who play football but you know that you have to win the physical battle as well.

“In the game this weekend for instance, we know that it will be a tough contest first and foremost. It’s the stage of the season now where every team has something to fight for.

“Dunfermline might be fighting for their lives, and we have to be wary of that, but what we are playing for is just as important.

“I think I can handle that physical challenge a lot better now, and playing here has also allowed me to venture out of my comfort zone a bit.

“We had some injuries and although we have brought in Lawrence Shankland, he was cup-tied for a couple of games and I thought I did myself justice up front, especially against Rangers.

“It was a different challenge, but I feel as if I have added a few strings to my bow since coming here and I’m definitely a more rounded player.

“I’ll be going back to Celtic this summer a far better player than I was when I went back last summer, that’s for sure.”

The 20-year-old has long been earmarked as the next big thing to come through the ranks at Celtic Park, but he isn’t letting the praise he is getting and the excitement around his potential affect him in any way.

“If people are talking up my prospects and putting labels on me as the next big hope then that’s up to them, it’s nothing to do with me,” he said.

“I’m just concentrating on improving my game and doing the best I can for Morton just now, and then we’ll see what happens after that.

“I’m confident in my ability though, and after having this experience, I’m sure that I will be in a position to go back and look to get myself into that Celtic squad.”