Dumbarton's Jinky Hilton - "It's the hardest I've ever worked in football"

Dumbarton’s James Hilton says he’s been working the hardest he’s ever had to in football to earn his place back in the Sons team.

The attacker - signed from Stranraer over the summer - impressed in pre-season, but then found himself out the side as Stevie Farrell found a winning formula with Ryan Wallace in Hilton’s favoured number 10 role.

However Wallace being hit with illness meant Hilton was handed a first start in three months in Saturday’s 4-2 victory against Forfar Athletic.

And it was an opportunity that the Clydebank-based attacker grabbed with both hands, scoring the opener and creating the other three goals.

Speaking after the game, Jinky said: “It was good. We really wanted to win against Forfar after the disappointment of last week, so I was buzzing that I was able to come in and help the team.

“It was a bit of a statement from myself. I knew it was my opportunity.

“I’ve kept myself professional; I’ve not moaned and I’ve worked hard. It’s probably the hardest I’ve ever had to work in football.

“I’ve kept myself fit and if I’ve not played then I’m making sure that I’m out on a Sunday morning to keep myself up to speed with what the boys are doing on a Saturday and it’s obviously paid off at Forfar.”

The four goal haul was the fourth time Sons have hit four in a league game this season, and takes them to 18 goals in their last seven outings.

And Hilton says he believes the Sons support are seeing boss Stevie Farrell’s preferred style of play, having worked under him previously.

Jinky continued: “I think the good thing about the gaffer is the style of football we’re playing. When I worked under him at Stranraer it was a similar style we played to the style this season.

“Sometimes in Scotland with the weather