Bair eager to prolong ‘best period’ of his career with both club and country

Bair is concentrating on short-term goals involving Motherwell and the Copa America as he bids to prolong the most enjoyable spell of his career.

The Canada forward was named in the PFA Scotland Premiership Team of the Year last weekend after hitting 11 goals in his last 14 league games, form which earned him an international recall last month.

The 24-year-old has his sights set on pushing Motherwell away from any hint of relegation danger as they prepare to face Aberdeen at Pittodrie today. And he has the added incentive of pushing for a place in the Canada squad as they prepare to open the Copa America against Argentina on June 20 in Atlanta.

Manager Stuart Kettlewell declared there was more to come from the powerful forward, who has another year left on his contract.

Bair said: “I think I’m just learning, there’s a lot of stuff I have to improve, a lot of things I can get better at and sharpen up, and even things I haven’t even learned yet. I am excited to keep learning and growing as a player.

“I am focused on Motherwell, and Canada in the summer. Those are the two things that I am thinking about constantly.

“We have five games that are very, very important. We want to finish in that seventh spot, so that’s all I am thinking about.

“I have never enjoyed it more, this is definitely the best period of football in my life and I just want to keep going and see how far I can take it.”

Aberdeen are looking to rouse themselves to play out their Premiership campaign in the bottom six after last weekend’s Scottish Cup semi-final defeat by Celtic on penalties.

The Dons have struggled to replicate their impressive cup form in the league and midtheo fielder Dante Polvara said: “It’s a challenge because we’re coming off such a big fixture at the weekend and we put so much into the game.

“Everyone’s still thinking about it and talking about it but we have to completely put it behind us and try and find a way to replicate that energy and fight and quality that we put into it. We’re more than capable of doing so but Motherwell will have had the weekend off and will be looking to make us look silly.”