DOUGIE IMRIE has been handed a boost ahead of his side's trip to Firhill to face Partick Thistle after opting to extend the contract of one experienced midfielder until the end of the season.

Ton bosses have moved to exercise their right to keep Ali Crawford at Cappielow until the end of the season, with the 34-year-old penning a contract extension on his initial six-month contract due to expire today (January 31).

Crawford has penned fresh terms until the end of the season (Image: Alex Craig) Manager Dougie Imrie added, “I am pleased to have Ali staying at the club until the end of the season.

"He is a player of real quality and an important player in the squad both on and off the pitch.”

Crawford returned to the club in the summer, after training under his former Hamilton Accies team-mate throughout pre-season.

READ MORE: Crawford admits he faces a fight for his Morton future after returning from injury in Hogmanay win

His return came 12 months after a loan spell which saw him help Ton's push for the promotion play-offs in 2022, with Imrie's men narrowly missing out on a top four place.

And he immediately established himself as a key part of Imrie's new-look Morton team, starting the first eight league matches of the campaign and registering two assists in the 3-2 loss to Falkirk in August.

Injury then saw him miss nearly two months of action, with a hamstring pull forcing him off against Raith Rovers before he suffered a torn thigh in training as he geared up for a return to action.

But he was back in the matchday squad in early December and has since made two appearances off the bench, against Partick Thistle on Hogmanay and Queen's Park on Saturday - admitting before the former that he had one month to prove he still had a future at Cappielow.

The Tele understands that any further Morton moves before the transfer window slams shut on Monday are more likely to involve departures from Cappielow than the arrival of new faces.