Michael McClellan returned to his former club, Ards, on Saturday with a superb performance, scoring two goals and providing assists in H&W Wilders’ four-goal win.
The 29-year-old returned to East Belfast last summer – scoring 74 goals in 57 appearances in his first game – and believes the club have a special formula to find him at his best.
Joining Preston as a teenager from Linfield, McClellan admitted he was “the lowest point in football” two years after his return to Northern Ireland – but welder, Gary Smith’s trial, during his first spell at the club provided him with a platform to showcase his unparalleled quality. doubt it.
Speaking to Match on Tuesday about the possibility of a promotion, McClellan explained: “Playing for the welding team is my dream and it would be a great achievement for the club.
When the club is off the pitch we have the Premier League facilities, but it took us a while to get used to this new reality – we shouldn’t lose it, but we have to make sure the challenge continues.
“When I first signed up as a player, it was my lowest point in football – and immediately they made me feel at home.
(Photo: Matt McKee – Presseye.com)
“I came home from England when I was in Port Down and Balemina didn’t play important football, then he wasn’t playing in my strongest position, it was a frustrating period.
“Once I joined welding, my self-confidence returned and I immediately felt like he was my team.
“I don’t see myself playing for another club, this is my team.
“This group is incredibly close, I go to lunch with some of them regularly and talk to all my teammates every day, which my wife probably hates!”
The welders are behind Lagall, third in the standings, by only one goal, but eight points behind second-placed Anna, which is a large number but not difficult to beat.
McClellan added: “Saturday’s win against Ards was about getting three points and rediscovering some form of division.
I don’t tend to look too much into the ranking, because it changes a lot, but our minimum target this season was to finish in the top six and then, if we can, move on.
If we lose the promotion this year, it will depend on us as players and not on the coaching staff, because there were a lot of games that we did not judge ourselves.
“The disappointing results came from individual mistakes, but despite all the failures we’ve had, we’re still in the right parts.
Ideally we want to finish second – catching garlic can be very difficult and now we’re heading into the playoffs.
While the welders – as well as all league teams – have struggled with inconsistencies this season, McClellan believes he has what it takes to make the campaign stand out.
“We beat Ballinalard three times this season, beat Ardes twice and beat Anna and Newry,” the striker added.
“There was a lot of inconsistency across the league when teams were lower than the first, but we probably see it more.
“We are happy with the position we reached the finals and played three times in all the other teams – we don’t think we are far behind anyone in terms of quality.
“The next five matches will determine that our season will be one of them, something special.
Source: Belfastlive
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