GOALKEEPER Trevor Carson says he feels firmly part of the Fir Park family after joining up with father-figure Stephen Robinson at Motherwell.
The Northern Irishman took some persuasion from the Steelmen boss to make the move north this summer.
But he reckons – apart from some gentle-ribbing from his new team-mates over his relationship with his compatriot – things could not be going any smoother.
Now he has vowed to repay the faith showed in him by Robinson, who dipped into his meagre budget to land him from Hartlepool for an undisclosed fee.
The 29-year-old said: “As footballers you always say the dressing room you’re in is the best, but I can honestly say that coming in it’s been such an easy transition because there is not one bad egg in the team.
“The lads have been giving me a bit of stick, though, and saying the gaffer is my dad because we are fellow countrymen.
“But I’ve worked with the gaffer before with Northern Ireland and I knew what he was all about.
“He showed a lot of commitment to get me during the summer because there were times the deal looked dead.
“I feel a wee bit of responsibility now to work that bit harder and repay his faith. I don’t want to let him or Alan Burrows, the chief exec, down because they were so keen to get me here.”
Carson previously admitted he was unsure if Scotland’s top-flight was the right move for his career.
But after making his Ladbrokes Premiership debut during Sunday’s thrilling 2-1 defeat to Rangers, he now says playing for Motherwell is just the platform he needs to relaunch his international career.
“I’ve never hid the fact I’d love to be part of the Northern Ireland squad,” said Carson, who has one Northern Ireland B cap but has yet to feature for Michael O’Neill’s full squad. “But there are four or five other keepers saying the same.
“It would be great if I could do that and the stage I had on Sunday is what made coming up here worthwhile.
“You do get those sort of games down in the English lower leagues with the atmosphere and everything else round the game.
“I think I’ve played 300 career games but Sunday was by the far biggest game I’ve ever played in. The fact I went into it with no nerves just told me this is the stage I’m supposed to be playing at.
“I came out of it thinking I want more. But for now, I can’t think about the international stage, I just need to focus on Motherwell and then see where it takes me.”
Carson now hopes tonight’s Betfred Cup last-16 showdown with Ross County will lead to more high-profile clashes.
He said: “County have done well these last few years though and it’s going to be a battle.
“But I don’t worry about us having to out-fight teams so this is a big opportunity for us to progress.”
Meanwhile, Well have announced that Jacob Blyth has left the club.
The former Leicester striker joined last summer but failed to score in any of his nine appearances last term.
A brief statement said: “Motherwell can today confirm it has parted company with Jacob Blyth by mutual consent.”
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