If Louis Moult ever fancies stepping out of an evening for a pint or two in Motherwell, chances are he needn’t worry about bringing his wallet.

The striker is so universally loved in the steel town that the very thought of him receiving anything but the unconditional adoration of the Motherwell support seems a strange notion.

And yet, that is what the man himself feared after news emerged that he wouldn’t be putting pen to paper on a contract extension at Fir Park.

An injury kept him out of the club’s pre-season friendlies, meaning a healthy visiting support was in place for Motherwell’s trip to face Queen’s Park at the national stadium in the Betfred Cup.

It was their first competitive fixture of the season, and Moult’s first outing since the cat was out of the bag over his decision to knock back that offer.

As he stood in the tunnel, he fretted about the reaction he would receive from the supporters who he had enjoyed such a bond with since joining the club two years previously. He needn’t have.

“I was worried what kind of reception was waiting for me at Hampden,” Moult admitted. “But I went to warm up and the Motherwell fans were all singing my name. Then I came on and I scored and they all went mental.

“I was taken aback a little bit actually. It was my first game and it just shows what this football club is about. They have been 100 per cent behind me no matter what and knowing they are behind me makes me run that extra yard for them.

“I like to think that the fans understand my situation. I know the football club understands my situation. But the fans responded to me in a positive manner and it helped me.

“I’m loving life here. The relationship I have with the fans is special, it’s massive for me. They have been unbelievable and they maybe do give me that little edge, that wee bit more confidence.

“I’ll maybe try something I wouldn’t try if I wasn’t liked. I understand I’m liked here and I appreciate it.”

When Moult steps out at Hampden to face Rangers in the Betfred Cup semi-final, there is no doubting the acclaim he will receive from the 10,000 or so Motherwell fans expected to make the short trip.

And he can think of one very obvious way to repay them for their backing.

“It’s going to be some game,” he said. “Probably the biggest game I’ve played in since I’ve been at this football club.

“But we are not going there for a day out. We are going there to do something and that’s reach the final.

“It’s important we go into that game on a high and that means beating Partick and Hamilton. We believe we can do that and that’s what we are all working towards.”

The first of those challenges awaits today, and Moult is sure that he can shoot down Thistle at Fir Park with the help of the unsung hero in the Motherwell striking duo, Ryan Bowman.

“I love playing alongside Ryan,” he said. “He helps me massively and I’ve told him that in the dressing room.

“When we play together he gives me a lot of space. I can also save some of my energy. When I am playing up there on my own I’ve got to do everything. I’ve got to battle for the ball, jump, sprint in behind, come short to feet.

“I’ve told him that, how much he helps me. Ryan needs to carry on doing what he’s doing because he has been fantastic.

"Bowie is a confidence player and he had no confidence last season. But he’s a different player this season. You look at him and say: ‘who is that guy?’ I mean that as a massive compliment to Ryan Bowman.

"I knew he was capable of it because I’ve played against him in the Conference and now he is doing it for Motherwell.

“He looks like he would run through a brick wall for Motherwell and that’s how he was in the Conference. He had lost that a little but now he has got it back – and it’s helping this football club and it’s helping me.”