Sunderland transfer revisited as former boss hails ex-Black Cats star after 'top-class' Motherwell moment

He was the manager when Connor Shields made his big move south - and former Sunderland boss Jack Ross is pleased to see his ex-player thriving at Motherwell.

The former Albion Rovers star scored and assisted in the space of a minute during the Steelmen's crucial 4-2 Premiership win over St Mirren.

It moves them to fifth with one game to go before the split, away at Livingston.

Shields moved to Motherwell last summer after a fruitful stint at Queen of the South. Initial form in Coatbridge with Rovers though was what won him a 2018 move to Sunderland.

He left a year later for non-league Aldershot Town and Ross says his moments against Saints proved what a good player the attacker can be.

His cross found Sean Goss to make it 1-1 before beating Joe Shaughnessy with a run 60 seconds later. Dean Cornelius' strike and a Richard Tait own goal finished things off for Graham Alexander's men.

Ross said on Sportscene: "When I took the job at Sunderland, he arrived from Albion Rovers. I think he's had to work his way back up the levels via a spell at Queen of the South.

"Richard Tait gets half-attracted to screening his cross for the first goal. For the second, I think Joe Shaughnessy is just unaware Connor Shields is behind him.

"Connor's sharp and he's bright. The finish is brilliant. He had top-class composure to lift his head and lift the ball over (St Mirren goalkeeper) Dean Lyness."

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