ELLIOTT FREAR feared his chance to play in Scotland was scuppered last summer – but now the 26-year-old is ready to light up Fir Park after his January move.

The winger was on the brink of a switch to Motherwell in the summer transfer window, but failed to complete his switch from English National League outfit Forest Green Rovers before the deadline.

However, Motherwell boss Mark McGhee came back in for Frear last month as a replacement for Marvin Johnson and now he’s ready to reward the manager’s persistence.

“I know that there was interest last summer, but it’s been good to get up here and I’m settled in now.

“I knew a few of the boys here at Motherwell before I came here from playing in the National League, so I’m really looking forward to get going properly.”

Since the departure of Johnson in the summer, a left-sided midfielder is the position McGhee has been most keen to fill.

In Frear, the manager believes he’s found his man and he expressed his delight to sign him up. 

He said: “We were delighted to secure Elliott’s signature in January, especially because we were keen to sign him in the summer.

“He’s a true winger, a left-sider and I’m really pleased that we’ve secured his signature because he brings a bit of balance to the squad. I look forward with anticipation to seeing him in action, he seems settled now and now comes the part where it’s all about impressing and getting in to the team. 

“He has the right type of attitude which I feel is hugely important.”
A number of Well stars have made the switch north and went on to be tremendous signings for the Steelmen, which Frear admits played a big part in his decision to sign for McGhee’s side.

The winger said: “That was one of the main things really – along with signing for a big club like Motherwell – seeing the likes of Louis Moult and Marvin Johnson go on to do well here, so hopefully I can make the same impact and kick on.

“The players who have come up from National League level [Moult, Craig Clay, Richard Tait] have gone on to do really well, so that was a big part of the decision I made to come up here.”

Frear may have made the bench against Rangers, Ross County and Hearts – but it was his brief taste of Premiership football against Rangers that he says has whetted his appetite ahead of the showdown with Celtic at Parkhead on Saturday.

“It was a good experience and the pace of the game was a lot different from what I’m used to,” he said. 

“Hopefully with a few weeks of training under my belt I’ll be ready to go as soon as the manager calls. I’m ready to step up to the challenge.”