Andy Scott believes he is in the right environment to progress his career as he continues his development at Larne.

The 21-year-old made the switch to Inver Park at the start of the 2020/21 campaign and has made 34 appearances for Tiernan Lynch’s side to date, scoring three times in the process.

The baulk of those games have come this season as the east Antrim side aim to clinch European football for a second successive campaign.

Scott, who hails from Castlederg, highlighted that the benefits of full-time football meant it was an easy decision to complete the deal after coming home from England.

“I want to kick on and I think I’ll only improve here at Larne,” he said.

“I didn’t play much last season but I’ve certainly been more involved this campaign and I’ve thoroughly enjoyed it.

“Larne play football the right way as I’m not the height to win headers and I enjoy that as it brings the best out of me.

“Of course we would like to improve to our league position but we still have plenty to play for as we are in the quarter-final of the Irish Cup and we want to qualify for Europe.

“I think once we find a bit more consistency in the league we will be hard to stop but it is so competitive with a lot of good teams.

“The club have been great as I stay in a house here with a few of the players and the full-time aspect was a big factor in my decision to come here after my time in England.”

That spell in England would see Scott join Accrington Stanley before loan stints at Stalybridge Celtic and Curzon Ashton.

Despite not being able to forge his way into the first-team picture at the Lancashire side, Scott revealed that he has no regrets.

“I started my playing career at Dergview up until the age of 14 before moving to Maiden City and I was there until I was 18,” he added.

“Paul Kee who has got contacts in England sent me over to Accrington Stanley for a trial and thankfully I impressed and was signed.

“I didn’t find the transition into full-time training that bad as I was training three nights a week with Maiden City and Northern Ireland, it was probably just competing against men on a regular basis.

“Stanley had just got promoted to League One the year I joined and I was in the squad a few times and played in the Checkatrade Trophy.

“I just couldn’t forge my way in and was loaned to Stalybridge Celtic for six months and it was an eye opener as they play a different style on a difficult pitches, but it was a learning curve.

“After that, I came back to Stanley and was loaned to Curzon Ashton and they played at a decent standard which I enjoyed.

“Overall, I probably just didn’t get a sniff at Accrington but there are no hard feelings as I enjoyed living in England and playing in a full-time set-up.

“When I came home I didn’t know what I was going to do but once I trained with Larne I knew it was a no brainer to sign.”

Scott’s performances have also resulted in international recognition as he has represented Northern Ireland – most notably a call-up to the U21 squad for European qualifiers in October 2020.

“I think I was involved in most of the under age squads up until U18 level,” he reflected.

“Andy Crosby then called me up to the U21’s for the European qualifiers against Finland and Ukraine which I’m thankful for.

“It was great to be recognised and I came on against Finland and enjoyed the trip to Ukraine.”