Motherwell striker Theo Bair aims to score as many goals as possible as he bids to secure a place in Canada’s squad for the Copa America this summer – and that could spell bad news for Aberdeen on Saturday.
The 24-year-old received a call-up for the crucial qualifier against Trinidad and Tobago last month, which qualified Canada for the tournament in America from June 20 to July 14, and was his first involvement in four years.
Bair is desperate to be involved not only in the tournament – in which they open against World Cup winners Argentina on June 20, before playing Peru on June 25 and Chile four days later – but friendlies against Netherlands on June 6 and France in Bordeaux on June 9.
To do so, Bair needs to be on top form, with five league games left, starting at Pittodrie on Saturday, when he hopes to add to his tally of 13 goals in 36 games.
He said: “I’m focused on Motherwell and Canada in the summer – those are the two things that I’m thinking about constantly.
“We want as many points as possible. Aberdeen have taken a bit too much away from us this season, and it’s about time we got some off them.
“We have five games that are very important, we want to finish in that seventh spot, that’s all I’m thinking about, if I’m honest.
“I know it [Canada call-up] will be completely reliant on my performances, so I want to have the best performances possible, score as many goals as possible, to make sure I have a chance to make it.
“There are two big friendlies right before, and I’d really like to be involved in that, but again it will be completely reliant on how I do in these next five games.
“It’s the size of the game, and getting to get to play against Argentina in itself – not just Lionel Messi, as everyone keeps saying – and the other teams as well.
“It’s an unbelievable experience, and if you get out of that group you’re playing against even bigger teams as well.
“It’s definitely a dream for a player.”
Bair says he has never been happier in football than he currently is at Motherwell, which was reflected in his inclusion in PFA Scotland’s Premiership team of the season.
The striker reckons he has so much more to learn, and hopes to improve further.
“It’s a huge honour for me to get recognised by my peers,” he said.
“I’m really ecstatic about it, and it’s a big change for me as well.
“I always knew that I could score goals in this league, so being given the opportunity and the platform and all the tools to do it was what I needed.
“The gaffer, his staff, and all my team-mates really helped me do that.
“I think I’m just learning, there’s a lot of stuff I have to improve, still, a lot of things that I can get better at and sharpen up, and things I haven’t even learned yet.
“I’m excited to keep learning and keep growing as a player.
“If I didn’t play with my team-mates then the goals wouldn’t have come, right, so everything from the team performances has got me the goals.
“I wouldn’t say it’s just me scoring goals miraculously. Blair Spittal has probably been involved in about 50 per cent of my goals, so I’ve had a very fine season because of that.
“There wasn’t really much pressure, it was just to go and enjoy your football and that’s how you’re going to get the best out of it.
“I’ve never enjoyed my football more. This is definitely the best period of football in my life and I want to keep going and see how far I can take it.
“It’s Motherwell as a whole. The gaffer has got the best out of his players, a lot of people have been really successful this season, there have been a lot of really good individual performances, and collectively.
“It’s a great place for players, it’s a very friendly environment, everyone’s very open, very close together, and we have a very good changing room, we train well and hard and we work hard.”
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