Morton goalkeeper Derek Gaston hopes he is not source of manager’s selection headache for Aberdeen semi-final

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Morton goalkeeper Derek Gaston reckons manager Jim Duffy will have a Betfred Cup semi-final selection headache – but hopes he is not causing it.

Gaston made his first start in seven matches in the weekend’s 5-0 hammering of Queen of the South after injury saw him lose the gloves to Andy McNeil.

But the 29-year-old is keeping his fingers crossed that he is in pole position to start Saturday’s eagerly-anticipated tie against Aberdeen at Hampden.

Gaston, who is part of a Morton squad that have won four of their last five matches in all competition, said: “We had a few injuries so I think we would have settled for a draw against Queens but to get the win in the manner we did was great.

“There will be a few boys that will be hoping they have given the manager a headache for the weekend.

“Everyone wants to play and I wasn’t sure myself when I’d get back in the team.

“Andy had been doing really well and did everything that was asked of him but I was fortunate that he put me back in the team at the weekend.

“It’s difficult for a goalkeeper, as soon as your out, it’s hard to get yourself back in the team.

“I had been out for a couple of weeks with a dead leg then an ankle injury although I had been on the bench a few times too.”

Gaston is no stranger to Hampden having played at the national stadium countless times during his time at Albion Rovers, but concedes that this weekend will be a completely different experience.

He added: “The excitement is definitely building and everyone is looking forward to it, not just the players but the fans, the coaches and everyone associated with the club.

“I’ve played at Hampden a number of times, Queens Park were in the same league when I was at Albion Rovers.

“We also lost 2-0 to Queens Park at Hampden in the Irn-Bru Cup last month although I didn’t play in the game.

“It will obviously be slightly different this time with it being a national cup semi-final and the fact that in the past there have only been about 500 fans there. This time there will probably be over 15,000 fans there.

“Aberdeen are one of the best teams in the country and it’s going to be the hardest game we’ve played this season by far.

“But if we play as well as we’ve been playing of late then we’ve got a chance. Even last season against the likes of Rangers and Hibs we put in good performances.”