Former Saint pens three-year deal

Motherwell are pleased to unveil John Sutton as their fourth summer signing. The twenty-four year old former Millwall and St Mirren striker spent last season at League Two side Wycombe Wanderers but has returned north of the border on a three year deal with the Steelmen.

Sutton started his career at London giants Tottenham Hotspur but never made the breakthrough into the first-team.

Loans spells at Carlisle United and Swindon Town provided much needed first-team experience before he joined the then Scottish Division One side Raith Rovers on a free transfer.

The Kirkcaldy club were under the tutorship of Spaniard Antonio Calderon and Sutton thrived, scoring sixteen goals in twenty-three outings.

His performance and goal ration at Starks Park earned the Norwich-born player a move to England when Dennis Wise snapped him up for Millwall. The move never quite worked out though and Sutton only started twice for the Londoners.

He crossed the Border for a second time, joining Dundee on loan in the summer of 2004 and played out the 2004/05 season at Dens Park. Twenty-two starts and eight goals was enough to convince St Mirren manager Gus McPherson that Sutton could do a job in the SPL and he joined Saints to spearhead their top league campaign in 2005.

A very successful two years in Paisley returned thirty goals in sixty-six starts over a two season spell. That form alerted a number of clubs, Motherwell included, and a battle for the striker’s signature ensued. Maurice Malpas’ departure from ‘Well put pay to any transfer to Fir Park and it was a former ‘Well player, Paul Lambert, who took the player South, this time to Wycombe Wanderers.

Despite playing in forty-eight games for the Adams Park club, again, it never quite worked out south of the border and he returns to ‘Well hoping to recapture some of the form that made him a stand out at Love Street.

“I am looking forward to getting back playing in the SPL” said the Motherwell number eleven.

“I’ve always enjoyed my spells in Scotland and have usually done not too bad. The teams I’ve played with have always tried to play good football and Motherwell are no different. The SPL is a great league with every week being a real test.

“Europe is also massive for us – As I understand it, if we win one tie we’ll be in the group stages and could play against some massive clubs so I am really looking forward to that. Motherwell, to a certain extent, were the surprise team last year and to finish third was a hell of an achievement. I want to come here, score goals, and help us get there again”

He will complete his move to Fir Park tomorrow subject to International clearance and registration formalities.