Jake Taylor is ready to show Motherwell fans the best of him, and he says there’s no better place to start than the Lanarkshire derby today.
Taylor’s only other experience of a derby came in the Dover version, playing for Exeter against Torquay.
He says he is aware though that today’s game may be an altogether less prosaic affair than that encounter, and he is more than up for the challenge.
“That was my only previous derby experience but it was fairly relaxed,” he said.
“It wasn’t like the more traditional derbies but it was still a derby and it was nice to get one over on your rival. We beat Torquay 2-1.
“But I know what the Hamilton game means to everyone here and it’s going to be a big game.
“In a derby you try and blank our the atmosphere and it’s only when you score you maybe realise what it’s like. I don’t take too much notice of it but it’s nice to have a twelfth man.
“The Motherwell fans have certainly been great since I’ve come up here.”
The midfielder, on-loan from Reading, has yet to really make his mark on the ‘Well first-team as he slowly adapts to a Scottish game that has impressed him.
He is positive though that he won’t be overawed by what is sure to be a ferociously-paced encounter at New Douglas Park.
“It’s been great,” he said.
“It’s very high tempo, with lots of tackling. Lots of running around.
“Hearts on my debut were a really strong team and the atmosphere at Tynecastle for that evening game was great. Those are the kind of games you want to be involved in. It’s just a shame we didn’t get the win that night but hopefully there will be other opportunities.
“The Championship is really similar. It’s 100 miles per hour, it’s all hustle and bustle. You don’t really expect it to be like that up here. But I’m adapting and the more I play the more I get used to it. You realise what it’s all about.
“I hope the fans are about to see the best of me. I played a few games but I got suspended and it was frustrating to miss a few games. But I played at the weekend and we got a vital point. It gives us confidence going into the game on Saturday.”
At the back of Taylor’s mind is the possibility that he could yet win a place in the Wales squad, who look destined for qualification to Euro 2016.
The midfielder has one cap for the country of his Grandfather’s birth, and he hopes to make him proud by impressing sufficiently for ‘Well to make the final cut.
“He’s still around and he was delighted when he heard about the Wales stuff,” he said.
“It’s always nice to make your family proud and he certainly is proud of me. He always keeps up to date with what I am doing.
“It’s great to have a strong family around you especially when you are far away from home.
“He’s never spoken the last time Wales qualified for the finals but it was a long time ago. We are looking to make a bit of history and we’ve done well so far. It’s now about trying to get over the line.
“Chris Coleman’s team will be keeping an eye on me. All I can do is keep trying my best and see what happens.”
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