Harland and Wolff Welders striker thriving amid club's promotion push

Michael McLellan returned to haunt his former club Ards on Saturday with a virtuoso performance in which he netted twice and provided two assists in a comprehensive four-goal win for H&W Welders.

The 29-year-old returned to the East Belfast club last summer – having netted a scarcely believable 74 goals in 57 appearances in his first stint – and believes the club have that special formula for him finding his best form.

Having joined Preston as a teenager from Linfield, McLellan admits he was at his “lowest point in football” after returning to Northern Ireland two years later – but the Welders, under the charge of Gary Smyth in his first spell at the club, provided him with a platform to showcase his undoubted quality.

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Speaking to Match on Tuesday over the possibility of promotion, McLellan explained: “To play for the Welders in the top-flight is something that I dream of and it would be such an incredible achievement for the club.

“With where the club are off the pitch, we have Premiership facilities but it has taken time for us to adjust to that new reality – and we need not to get carried away, but to ensure we keep challenging.

“When I signed for the Welders initially, it was my lowest point in football – and they immediately made me feel at home.

“I had come home from England then my time at Portadown and Ballymena was not playing much football then not being played in my strongest position, it was a frustrating time.

“As soon as I joined the Welders, my confidence flooded back and it immediately felt like it was my team.

“I do not see myself playing for any other club, this is my club.

“This group is incredibly close-knit, I go