Motherwell's new striker aims to be a big name, in more than one way

Apostolos Stamatelopoulos knows his name is a mouthful, but wants Motherwell fans to be chanting it every week, as he begins his Premiership adventure.

Having signed a three-year deal at Fir Park, the 25-year-old striker got 23 minutes of a debut in Saturday’s 0-0 Premiership opener at home to Ross County, after a ‘whirlwind’ start to Scottish football.

Stamatelopoulos had only just received visa clearance, a privilege not yet afforded to his wife and newborn child, who are still back home in Australia.

Having not played for a while, AP Stama, as he wishes to be known, knows he’s a bit behind, but promises an exciting brand of football when he is.

“I feel like when I’m fit, the chances that come my way I’ll put in the back of the net,” he said.

“I like to throw myself about, get in the box, score goals, so for me in football you have to be physical.

“I wouldn’t have come here if I didn’t think I could do that.

“And it’s about getting a connection with the boys, learning how some of them like to play, and once I deal with that I’m confident I will do well.”

Having played his entire career in Australia, with Adelaide United, Western United and Newcastle Jets chief amongst former clubs, Stamatelopoulos says he just wants to play, and keep himself in the Australian national side, but also liked what boss Stuart Kettlewell had to say.

“Speaking to the manager before I signed was a big thing," he said. "The type of bloke he was, the way he described and wanted to play his football, and the success that strikers have had here before was a big thing.

“Playing in the national team is an other big thing for me. In Australia we only play 24 or 25 games in the season and here there are a lot more games.

“I wanted to play as many