Ross Tierney ready to punch above his weight at Motherwell

Republic of Ireland Under-21 international Ross Tierney is relishing the challenge of proving he can handle the physical nature of the cinch Premiership after battling against bigger players all of his life.

The 5ft 7in attacking midfielder made his Motherwell debut against Morton on Saturday after joining from Bohemians.

The 20-year-old made 67 appearances for the Gypsies over three seasons and has shone for Jim Crawford's Ireland Under-21s, but he feels his size had put off some other suitors before Motherwell succeeded with a bid.

"People were looking but I was always looked at as a small player," he said. "I had a couple of injuries and then I had a bad year off the pitch and on the field in 2020, probably like we all did. Thankfully I broke into the team and I did well and here I am now.

"I had three years playing senior football so coming here wouldn't be too much of a big step-up in terms of physicality.

"I am obviously small in stature but I am well able to hold big boys off because I have been playing with older lads my whole life, running about with my big brothers and then playing three years senior level with Bohs has helped, but there is obviously a long way to go physically.

"It's been challenging because I am a smaller lad than everyone else. I was always the smallest person in the team, but I enjoyed the challenge and it probably made me stand out a little bit more."

Tierney had to deal with massive challenges off the pitch in 2020 following the death of his brother and health problems for his first child.

With his partner and their two children now over in Scotland with him, Tierney is looking to settle in on and off the pitch in Lanarkshire.

"I have had a plan set out that this half season is more about teething