RETURNING Morton star Ali Crawford says he’s ready to put a year of pain behind him and prove any Cappielow doubters wrong after sealing a stunning return to Greenock.

Crawford penned a six-month deal last Friday to mark the beginning of a second spell on Sinclair Street and he’s seeing the opportunity handed to him by former teammate Dougie Imrie as a way of putting a year from hell behind him.

The midfielder played his first game in 385 days in Saturday’s 0-0 draw against Partick and he says he’s ready to prove his doubters wrong in what he calls a clean slate, even though he admits they’re entitled to their opinions.

(Image: Gary Bradley)

He told the Tele: “It’s good to be back at Morton. I’m just delighted to be back out on the pitch if I’m being honest.

“It’s been a tough year, the past year for me personally. So, it’s been good to get back out there, get some minutes and begin to put it behind me with what was a good result for the boys.

“Not playing for that length of time is so frustrating. Football’s such a unique industry where you can work all week and then one day will ruin it because you’re not involved.

“In any other walk of life, you’re happy to work Monday-Friday and have a Saturday off. Fans don’t kind of understand that, however it’s part and parcel of football unfortunately.

“You just need to dust yourself down and get on with it and that’s fully what I intend to do here with a new challenge at Morton.

“Hopefully I can get back to the way that I know I can play and really kick on with the boys here.

“People have an opinion, they pay their money on a Saturday and are entitled to one. Look, I know myself I didn’t play as good as I know I can be in the loan spell.

“But this is a clean slate, hopefully I can go and show people what I can do by contributing goals and assists and helping the team.

“That can act as a motivation, proving people wrong but you’ll have doubters throughout your career.

“I’m experienced enough to know that it’s just part and parcel of football, people have their opinion but it won’t effect my performance.”

Crawford says that it’s good to have the backing from Ton chief Dougie Imrie as he looks to bounce back from a difficult period of his career.

But he says his motivations would be the same should it be anyone else who took a chance on him as he promises to give it his all between now and January.

He continued: “It helps when you’re working under someone who knows you like the gaffer does, but even if it was a different manager I’d still work my backside off for him to get into the team.

“Hopefully my quality can come through and I think that this style of play will suit me better."