Former Motherwell striker Lee Erwin has said that the influence of Kilmarnock manager Lee McCulloch was the main reason behind his decision to join the Rugby Park club.

Erwin signed a two-year deal with Killie yesterday after his negotiating a release from his Leeds United contract on Thursday.

And he admitted that his fellow former Fir Park forward was the driving force behind making the deal happen.

“The manager was definitely a factor,” Erwin told the club website.

“I spoke to him in January as well when I was supposed to come here on loan, but things didn’t go to plan.

“In the summer I was speaking to him again, and when I decided to come back to Scotland, it was Lee who was pushing me more to come here.

“I’m delighted. I’ve been speaking to the manager for a few weeks now, so I’m delighted to get it over the line.”

Erwin left Motherwell for Elland Road in 2015, and had loan spells at Bury and Oldham Athletic, where he scored 10 goals in 40 appearances last season.

Although his time in England didn’t go as well as he had hoped when he left Lanarkshire as a promising youngster, the 23-year-old thinks that the experience will stand him in good stead to find his top form again in his homeland.

“I’ve played against a lot of good players and experienced players in England, and I’ve played in the Scottish Premiership as well, so it’s been good to get experience in different leagues and the different ways that English teams play,” he said.

“Hopefully it will be a successful season for me and the team. First and foremost, we should be aiming for a top-six finish, I think that would be a good successful season for us, and to get a good cup run as well maybe.”