Dunfermline boss Jim Jefferies believes defender Callum Morris is capable of playing in Scottish football’s top flight although he would love to see him stay at East End Park.
Courier Sport last week revealed Morris, who rejected the offer of a new deal with the Pars, is on the radar of Dundee United, Aberdeen and Partick Thistle as the summer approaches.
The 24-year-old former Newcastle reserve was plucked from Northern League outfit Morpeth Town to sign for the Pars and now looks destined for a move to a higher level.
Jefferies said: “I think he’s got the potential to go and play in the Premiership, there’s no doubt about that.
“Whether he’s ready for that now or not, he’s been let go at an early age and he has one or two faults that he’s improving on, but when he’s on his game he’s a good player.
“It’s just sad, as I said at the time, that we’ve resurrected his career and gave him an opportunity and all we were looking for was something back.
“We’d never ever stop him if things didn’t work out for us and if he wants to move on, then fine. All we were asking for is to make sure that we got a little bit back in return.
“We made our statements and some papers put out a story that I ‘blasted’ Callum I never blasted Callum, I just said I was really disappointed considering what the club has done for him that he didn’t take the same option as Josh Falkingham and Andy Geggan.
“But everybody is different, and I’ve said as long as it doesn’t affect his form like any other play then we’ll be fine.
“We gave him a bit of a security along with an option to move on, and I think what we were happy to accept was way, way below the value of what we would put on him if we had him on a longer-term contract. But that’s life and you get on with it.”
Just like the situation with midfielder Josh Falkingham last month, Jefferies hinted the door remains open to Morris for a U-turn.
“He’s made his decision and we’ve tried to speak to him a couple of times about it, so the ball’s in his court now,” he added.
“He’s the only one who can resurrect it and we’d be open to that, obviously, although we’d have to start the negotiations again.
“We’re not blasting him, what we’re saying is that we’re just disappointed but so would any manager be given how we’ve looked after him and gave him a great opportunity here. “
Looking ahead to Saturday’s home game with East Fife, goalkeeper Ryan Scully has made a remarkable recovery after dislocating his toe early in the defeat at Rangers last Saturday.
Jefferies said: “You would think earlier in the week we would rule him out, but every single day he’s got better and better.
“He’s done a lot with the physio and it’s not really his kicking foot either, so it’s good news he’s got a chance for Saturday.
“We wouldn’t play him if there’s any doubt at all. But young Ryan Goodfellow will probably be disappointed after coming on at Ibrox.
“He did everything right last week, although he’ll not get many easier games than he got at Ibrox last week because they didn’t really cause us many problems.”
Ryan Wallace has also trained this week and could make the squad, although Danny Grainger is ruled out through suspension.
Jefferies felt the 2-0 scoreline at Ibrox was harsh on his players and hopes they can turn possession they had into goals when East Fife visit East End Park.
“I’ve been going to Ibrox many times and I didn’t expect us to have as much of the game as we did but it’s credit to the boys,” he concluded.
“It was always going to be a tough game, but I thought we did great up until the last third, and that’s what caused our downfall.
“It took something special from Rangers to get in front, and when they got in front they had something to hold on to, and we just didn’t do the right things in the last third.”