Connor Shields has had a career of twists and turns - but he hopes to pick up some consistency after a frustrating start to life at Motherwell.
After 11 goals for Championship side Queen of the South last season, the attacker stepped up to Premiership level with the Steelmen in the summer.
Injury has halted his progress but Shields netted for the first time in claret and amber during last week's impressive 2-0 win over Hearts.
Shields is well-travelled, despite only being 24. He jumped from Albion Rovers to Sunderland in 2018 but endured a frustrating time with the Black Cats, not making the senior grade.
He turned out for Alloa and Aldershot before his move to Queen's last year and now Shields is keen for his progress to continue after an injury-hit start.
“I have gone high and low in my career and had to pick myself back up,” he said. “Hopefully this is me on a steady path going up now.
“Last year I was a bit more consistent and hopefully I can do the same over the next couple of years.
“When you get high and go down again, it is a bit hard to take. But you just need to work hard on and off the pitch. I worked really hard last year and did well and got my move to here.
“I was going from last year playing every week to finding it a bit more difficult to get game time.
“But the manager says he wants me here and sees me breaking through, I just need to prove that with performances. It was good to hear that, it makes me go away and work even harder and prove that I can do it.”
Shields will hope to retain his starting place with Motherwell travelling to Dundee today. With competition from Kevin Van Veen, Tony Watt and more, the former Sunderland attacker knows it'll be tough.
“Getting injured in pre-season set me back a bit," added Shields. "Obviously you want to come in and hit the ground running.
“I injured my hamstring, it was an overload from pre-season, but Saturday was a good step in the right way.
“It’s the first time I have played in the (Premiership), it is much harder, but I am settling in now.
“The competition for the forward spots is very high. I am grateful the manager trusts me to put me in against Hearts in a big game.”
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