Dumbarton boss Jim Duffy believes youngster Rico Quitongo could end up playing at “a really good level” after a successful first year in senior football – but the Sons boss hopes to hold on to him for just one year longer.

The left-back joined the club last summer after spells with Hearts and Hamilton, and capped off a solid debut season with the Sons by winning Young Player of the Year at the club’s awards night.

Quitongo’s attitude was praised by Duffy, however the former Morton Boss has still challenged Rico to improve. Speaking to the Reporter, he said: “I was really impressed with Rico. He’s a terrific boy and a really good trainer. He looks after himself and he’s got a terrific attitude to the game.

“He’s a good defender and that’s something full-backs are less known for these days.

“They are more known for getting forward in the modern game and supplying width and being athletic.

“Rico is a really good defender, but he is fit enough to get up and down the pitch.

“To move to the next level, he has to add that final delivery into the opposition box – and if he can add that to his game, then he’s got a real chance of progressing to a really good level.

“His attitude and determination to be a good player is there for everybody to see.

“He doesn’t like missing training and he’s come in a few times with a cold or whatever but he’s still been there and we’ve had to say to him to stay in the dressing room or go home.

“He’s not the type of boy that phones you up with any wee kind of ailment and says he’s not feeling well.

“I’m delighted for him and it was his first ever season playing first-team football so I’m sure he’ll have learned a lot.

“All things being ideal, we would love to have him again for next year but we just don’t know. I can’t promise someone just now something I won’t be able to back up.”

The club have extended the currents squads contracts until the end of this month to allow the players to be furloughed, with Duffy hoping that there might be more clarity on next season following that.

He added: “In previous times when a player’s contract was coming to an end, one of three things would happen – I would offer them a contract, they would be released, or another club would offer them a contract – but in this particular situation then none of those can happen.

“It gives the players a month’s grace in terms of seeing what happens at the end of June and whether there’s any movement getting back training.

“We might have a clearer indication by the end of June if we can start looking ahead to a new season, and if that’s the case then we can see what we can do to get players onboard again.”