FORMER Saints man Callum Slattery reveals how ex-Celtic Fraser Forster helped Motherwell seal the midfielder and admitted “I have had chats with Fraser who played here for a while, as a young player it will be a test and definitely what I need.”

Between loan and permanent spells, the Saints goalkeeper has played five full seasons in the Scottish Premiership and carved himself hero status with stand-out performances – including in an Old Firm cup final.

It was the man-mountain's performances north of the border that earned him a big-money move to the Premier League way back in 2014, something that Callum Slattery will no doubt hope to emulate.

The 22-year-old has signed a three-year deal with Motherwell, with Saints receiving an undisclosed fee to be released from his contract, and after loan periods with Gillingham and Dutch side De Graafschap he has a first-team pathway to forge in a top-flight.

Read more

Saints academy graduate Callum Slattery signs for Motherwell

Saints will play La Liga side Levante in pre-season friendly

Vaccine passports could bar Saints fans Premier League entry

The youngster hasn’t been shy in admitting he sought out Forster’s expertise and opinion, before sealing his move to Fir Park.

Slattery told the Glasgow Times: “I have had chats with Fraser who played here for a while,” said Slattery. “That sums it up really – a lot of quality players have played in Scotland and I was attracted to it.

“Fraser was talking about the league and telling me about the Scottish league and that it isn’t as easy as some people may think it is.

“As a young player it will be a test and that is definitely what I need. I need to play football and I need to test myself.

“I had James Ward-Prowse and Harrison Reed in front of me at Southampton. They have kicked on, I learned a lot off of them and I learned a lot at Southampton but I felt as though the time was right for me to move on.”

Slattery was awarded his debut with no time to waste, too, coming off the bench as his side managed a 2-0 win over Annan that put them into the knockout stages of the Scottish League Cup.

Graham Alexander’s men kick off their Scottish Premiership season on Sunday when they welcome Hibernian, with seven signings having already been made that ensure it will be a new look outfit.

They’ll be looking to improve on an eighth-placed finish that they settled for last season – a finish that, if it weren’t for five wins in the final eight fixtures, could have been much lower.

Slattery will want to help the team but still have his own personal goals in mind having made just five first team appearances in Saints colours - although he insists he just can’t wait to get going.

He added: “It all moved very quickly so it is good to get it over the line,” he said. “I am here and it is good to be able to get going.

“I think the way Scottish football is going and the way it is watched is good. I had spoken to Graham (Alexander) for a while and the ideas that he had and the way he wants to build the team attracted me right away.

Daily Echo: Motherwell manager Graham Alexander (Picture: PA)Motherwell manager Graham Alexander (Picture: PA)

“I was a younger lad when Steven Davis was there at Southampton but I trained with him a few times and he is a great player.

“It has been hectic but it has been going at 100 miles an hour. It is just good to be here now rather than prolonging in.

“Players are playing first-team football a lot younger now. 22 is not young so I see it that I need to be playing first-team football and that is what I am here to do.”