Callum Slattery says a spell in the Netherlands as a young player has helped him to mature, and now he's ready to stamp his mark on Motherwell.
The 22-year-old midfielder signed a three-year deal this summer after leaving Southampton, but says loan spells in the Dutch second tier with De Graafschap and Gillingham have helped him along the way.
Slattery has been thrown straight into the team at Fir Park since his arrival, and intends to stay there, as Motherwell head into a Premier Sports Cup last-16 clash at Dundee today.
He said: "[Going over to the Netherlands] was good, it was a different experience for me. I was quite a younger player then, I was 20 years old when I went over.
"It was my first taste of first-team football, but it was a different experience, and one that I enjoyed.
"I think that will help a lot; going away at a young age like that helps you for the future, really, so I'm used to being away, whether it be family, friends or teammates that I'm used to.
"I've had a taste of that early on so I can settle in quite quickly.
"Settling down at Motherwell would be massive.
"I feel like two years ago I wasn't really mature in a way that I'd like to be, but two years down the line I feel much more matured, ready for first-team football and to stamp my mark."
Slattery added: "It has been a very quick start, all 100 miles an hour, but I got up here, went straight into training, and straight into the games, which was full-on, so it has been quite easy.
"I had a couple of weeks worth of training at Southampton. I didn't have any games, but a couple of weeks of training and then I headed straight up here.
"I hope the manager has seen something in me, but it's good just to be up here, be involved, and go straight into the games."
Slattery admits he's not quite at full match sharpness, but says everybody at Fir Park has helped him to settle in.
"With the restrictions lifted a bit it has been a bit easier, and having a few lads help me settle in - and being in the same situation as me - has made it a lot easier.
"As time goes by it can only get better for myself and the team.
"I'd like to say I've come in just shy of full fitness, but as the weeks go on I feel like I'm going to get fitter and fitter.
"There are a few lads who are in the same situation as me. I'm quite new to the team, but the lads that were here last season and the experienced lads have made it very easy, and I think we've gelled quite quickly as a team.
"We know each other quite well now, and we've set high expectations for each other."
Slattery and his new side head into that cup clash with Premiership newcomers Dundee at Dens Park and the Englishman says they won't be taking it lightly.
He said: "It's a massive thing not only for the players but the fans as well.
"The cup is just another thing for us to thrive for, so it's got to be taken seriously.
"We have the belief we can win; that's the mind-set we go into every game with, whether it be league or cup - we want to win the game that we're being faced with.
"With the cup we take each game as it comes and try to win it.
"Every team that we play is a tough game, we know it's not going to be easy, and we need to approach it the same, which is in a serious manner and to go on to win it."
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