Dumbarton new boy Michael Ruth hopes he can be the man to fire the Sons to promotion.
The striker inked a season long deal at The Rock last week having left Queen of the South, and revealed he already has a goal target in mind - as he looks to finally find a home in football.
Having made his debut for Queen’s Park just two months after his 16th birthday, Ruth became hot property - eventually joining Premiership Aberdeen in 2018.
Five first team appearances for the Dons followed, before short loan spells at Arbroath and Falkirk and a permanent move to Queen of the South.
However after a frustrating campaign with the Doonhamers that saw Ruth, now 21, start just six games, he is determined to become a regular starter at The Rock.
Michael told the Lennox: “Last year was frustrating, so I’m determined to nail down my place in the starting 11 and score as many goals as I can.
“I hope to show in pre-season that it should be my spot in the starting 11. I want to be scoring goals this year, that’s my aim.
“The last few years have been frustrating and a bit stop/start for me.
“Since I got the move to Aberdeen when I was younger I’ve not really had a place where I’ve played 30 games and made a spot in a team my own.
“I’ve been on loan for six months twice and then went back to Aberdeen.
“That’s why I’m really excited and motivated to make this a brilliant season for me. I’ve set my own target for goals this season, but I’ll be keeping that to myself for now until I hit it.
“I work hard up front, I’m a good finisher, I’ll run the channels and I love being in the box trying to create space. I know that, when I get a chance, I’ll usually put it away.”
And he revealed that it didn’t take long for boss Stevie Farrell to convince the forward to join the Sons.
He added: “When it came to the end of my time at Queen of the South there were a couple of teams speaking to me, but Dumbarton sounded the best option by far.
“I met with the gaffer and within the first few minutes of our chat I knew this was the right place for me.”
The gaffer meanwhile was delighted to get the deal over the line, which takes his squad to 21 players for the new campaign.
He said: “We were immediately on the case after finding out Michael was available and we’re delighted to be able to welcome him to the club.
“He is a very talented individual with his best years ahead of him but we are confident he can make his mark on the first-team immediately.
“We enjoyed our return to training on Saturday and the positive impact that Michael, and the rest of our new signings, have already had on the rest of the dressing room.”
