Motherwell goakeeper George Long believes playing in the Scottish Premiership with the Steelmen is the perfect platform to showcase what he can do.
The 19-year-old, on loan from Sheffield United until the end of the season, is well aware of the club’s recent goalkeeping history and hopes to emulate the likes of John Ruddy and Darren Randolph both of whom have gone on to bigger and better things in their career.
Ruddy moved to then-Premier League side Norwich City in 2010 before earning his senior England cap two years later, while Randolph has become a permanent fixture at Championship side Birmingham City.
And Long says he wants to follow in their footsteps and be successful at Fir Park by keeping them in the division.
“I’ve been told about the recent goalkeeping history. John Ruddy has went on to play for England and establish himself in the Premier League and is now in the Championship and so is Darren Randolph,” he said.
“It will be tough to live up to those two players hopefully I can emulate something like what they have achieved.
“It’s a big club in Scotland and I feel like I’ve handled the move quite well, I’ve got plenty of games under my belt down at Sheffield United, so I’m not like a new keeper without any experience.
“I want to play at the highest level possible so the Premier League in England and international level as well. I feel this is a great platform for me to show what I can do.”
Ahead of the trip to Aberdeen on Friday, 11th-placed Motherwell have built some momentum with morale-boosting performances over Inverness CT and Kilmarnock.
Long hopes they can take that form into the match at Pittodrie.
“Being down the bottom of the league you’re going to be tested at times. I saw it as a brilliant opportunity to keep Motherwell in the Premier League,” he continued.
“We are well on our way to doing that but there’s a long way to go there’s plenty of points to play for and it’s a great challenge for me and the lads.
“We go into the game full of confidence after the past couple of results. If we carry on our form over the last few games we can definitely cause an upset.”
