Aaron Connolly admitted that it did not take too much persuading to get him to move out on loan from Premier League side Brighton to join Middlesbrough.
The Republic of Ireland striker joined the Teeside club over the weekend and said that a chat with manager Chris Wilder on Christmas Eve made up his mind to head north for the second half of the season.
The manager previously guided Sheffield United to the Premier League, and this season, Middlesbrough have a chance of following in their footsteps as they currently sit just one place and a solitary point outside the play-off places.
And Connolly, who has featured just six times in all competitions this season for Brighton, said that he is excited at the prospect of playing regularly at his new club.
"It’s a massive club, and I’m just excited to get playing and get enjoying football again," said Connolly, speaking in his first interview since signing for his new club."
Boro are unbeaten in six league games, winning five and drawing one, including an impressive victory over current table toppers Bournemouth, and Connolly is keen to help maintain the club's run of form.
"I came up a couple of days ago and there seems to be a good feel about the place. It’s nice to come into a place that is winning and on a good run, so hopefully I can get into the team and help the momentum to keep going.
"I didn’t need much persuasion to come here and I spoke to the gaffer on Christmas Eve on the phone and that was the final bit of persuading that I needed, and I didn’t need to look elsewhere."
Manager Wilder appears to be delighted with the acquisition of the Galway native to add to his attacking options, stating that Connolly "gives us pace, can finish at the top of the pitch and gives us competition for the players around him".
However, the Ireland striker knows that his first job is to try to establish himself in the starting eleven at the Riverside Stadium.
"I’m not just coming down from Brighton, expecting to walk straight into the team, I’m here to help," said Connolly.
Wilder is renowned for his front-foot, attacking style of play and it is a philosophy that the young striker believes will complement his game, combined with his energy and work ethic.
"I like to make runs in behind and hopefully the way the gaffer plays, I can suit that with the high intensity, pressing from the front and that energy, so hopefully I can bring that, and the fans see that I am working hard for the team.
"I’m just excited to get going."
