Motherwell boss Graham Alexander says a heart-to-heart with Connor Shields led to the striker bagging his first Premiership goal in today's 2-0 win over Hearts at Fir Park.
Alexander revealed that the Coatbridge man came to him a few weeks ago and asked to go out on loan so he could get games, which he flatly refused to sanction.
Shields struck in 23 minutes to set his side on their way to a terrific win over the Jambos, and Alexander hopes it works well for his confidence.
But he also warned that it's up to Shields to keep himself in the team.
Alexander said: "It was a big one for Connor. We had a conversation a few weeks ago when he was maybe looking to possibly go out on loan, but I told him he was going nowhere - he will score goals for us in the Premiership, without a shadow of a doubt.
"It will be down to him how sooner or later that happens.
"I thought his performances a couple of weeks ago were very good and he was unfortunate to come out of the team, but we know what he gives us, with his work ethic, his pace, and he's a genuine goal-scorer, so hopefully he will build on that.
"He could have had another one, with Craig Gordon making an unbelievable save from his volley, but I thought he worried them all afternoon."
Alexander added: "We had a couple of enquiries and then he came to see me, because he wants to play football, and I understand that.
"He was maybe unsure about what I saw in him, whether I believed in him or not, but I told him that he's a player for us, that he will play in the Premiership and he will score goals for us, so I was quite adamant about that.
"We have other good forwards that he has to be better than, that's how it is, that's how competition is in a good club and it's what we're trying to be.
"He has stepped up to that and has shown that he can score goals in training, and I'm delighted for him to get his first Premiership goal tonight."
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