Motherwell star Sam Nicholson on wonderstrike he hopes can go some way to earning a new deal at Fir Park

Motherwell winger Sam Nicholson hopes his wonderstrike can spark a longer term future at Fir Park.

The 29-year-old, who signed a short-term deal in January, came into the side for the suspended Jack Vale yesterday and netted what gaffer Stuart Kettlewell described as a 'goal of the season contender'. He took Stephen O'Donnell's pass and unleashed an unstoppable strike into the top corner from 30-yards in the Steelmen's 4-1 triumph that relegated Livingston.

It boosted Motherwell's bid for a seventh place finish and all but ensured their top flight status for next season. And asked if that could help convince the club to offer him a new deal, the former Hearts star said: "I hope so. As a player, all you want to do is play and Blair Spittal and Jack Vale have sort of been in my position and they have had a great season, so it has been very difficult for me to complain.

"It is up to me to show what I can do in the moments I get my chance. Jack and Blair have been outstanding, so it is difficult. I'm just hanging fire until the end of the season. I am not the type to kick off at a manager or anything like that.

"The thing about the gaffer is he has been so open and honest with me from day one. As a player that's all you want, someone who tells you where you stand and he has been outstanding at that. I've got no issues. I'm happy here and enjoying it."

Nicholson was modest about his strike, which came in between a Theo Bair penalty and a fantastic header from the Canadian strike, before Dan Casey's strike sealed the points.

The former Colorado Rapids player, who has made 13 appearances and scored twice since leaving the MLS, added: "It was obviously good to get the goal. To be fair, I didn't expect it to go where it went but