Tony Watt admits he's loving life at Motherwell but has warned he needs to strike the right deal if he is extend his stay at Fir Park when his contract expires at the end of the season.
The striker netted from the penalty spot in Saturday's 2-1 defeat away to Dundee United that took the Steelmen's losing streak in the Premiership to three games.
But he believes he is the most settled he has ever been in his career after taking his tally to 15 goals in 61 appearances since being signed by Stephen Robinson in February 2020.
The fans have warmed to Watt and under current gaffer Graham Alexander, the 27-year-old Coatbridge native has found some of the best form in his career.
His current deal is up in the summer and the former Celtic and Airdrie striker admits he has a big decision to make when the final whistle blows on this campaign in May.
Watt, who was voted the club's player of the year last season, said: “I love it here. It’s probably one of the happiest places I have ever been.
“I’ve been places where I wasn’t happy and some where I was. But this club is just different with the way they have taken to me, the way the fans are, the way the manager is.
“I am delighted and I want to be here. I'm really happy and you see that in my performances. I'm trying to doing everything I can to win and we'll give everything until the final whistle.
"They look after me, they push me to be a better person and a better player. My morals and my mindset align with the club’s.
“It’s two years I’ve been here and that’s probably the longest I’ve been at a club.
“It’s a club close to my heart and I can’t thank them enough.
"I've been to places because, financially, it was good, but now, at 27, with my contract up at the end of the season, I know the next one has to be right for me and my family.
“Money is obviously part and parcel of football. I need to retire eventually and I’m not going to be in the best of jobs afterwards unless it’s in football. I’m not skilled enough to be a plumber or an electrician, I'm not equipped.
“My next deal needs to be where I am happy.
"That’s not me saying I am leaving and there’s a head start here with how they have treated me.
"It’s opened my eyes to show you can be loved."
After suffering a third defeat on the bounce, Watt insists the Steelmen aren't panicking and can be relatively pleased with their start to the campaign.
They've enjoyed good wins over Aberdeen, Dundee, Livingston and Ross County and a draw against Rangers at Ibrox last month, leaving them nine points off the top of the table in sixth place.
He added: "We got beat off a good Dundee United side who are in a good vein of form.
"I think we are still a really good side. We've lost three games on the bounce but it's been against really good teams and some of the most form teams in the league, so we are happy enough with the way we played, but unhappy with what we go home with.
"We are in the top six after 10 games and if we can be top six after Wednesday night [against St Mirren] we'll give ourselves a pat on the back and go again.
"All the boys are happy and we are all together. We are having fun while we are doing it.
"We got beat this time, but there's a lot of positives we can take from this.
"We are not going to win every game of football, but we just need to keep going."
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