Livingston forward Sebastian Soto hopes a successful spell in Scotland can fire him into the USA national team for this year’s World Cup.
The 21-year-old is in line to make his debut for the Lions when they host St Mirren today after signing on loan from English Premier League side Norwich City last month.
A positive covid test was followed by a knee injury which has slowed his start to life in West Lothian but he’s raring to go and admits he didn’t need much convincing that a move to the Tony Macaroni Arena was the right call after an unsuccessful spell at Porto.
He said: “I spoke to my agent and he came up with this option and I said, ‘okay, let’s look into it a little bit’.
“I thought the Scottish top division would be an amazing opportunity and I got on the phone with Davie.
“He made me feel like I was needed and I wanted to come. I took the next flight and I was here right away.
“He was honest, it was straight forward, which I like because I work like that too.
“I asked him, ‘what can I bring to the team and what can I work on that you’ve already seen, and how can I succeed in the Scottish Premiership’.
“He gave me the right answers and I thought this could be a great fit. It was just comfortable from the start.”
Soto is the second loanee to arrive at the club from Norwich, with keeper Daniel Barden having signed in the summer.
The Wales under-21 international stepped away from football in September to undergo treatment for testicular cancer, but the American ace admits he spoke at length with Barden about the move.
He said: “I spoke to Dan - he’s doing a lot better now - and I’ve only heard good things, so I got here pretty quickly.
“That makes you feel better, but you want to see for yourself. I came and got an amazing first impressions right away. It’s been great since being here.
“The first day was a warm welcome, the guys are top, the staff are top, Davie’s awesome, so it was great.”
As for his American World Cup dream, the former Hannover man commented: “That was a big decision as well. I want to play wherever I go.
“Of course, I know how football works and unfortunately sometimes loans don’t go well and you’ve got to change your environment.
“But, of course, the World Cup coming up is definitely a motivation. Even if it wasn’t, no matter what is going on, I want to play and I want to score.”
With both Bruce Anderson and Joel Nouble vying for time up front, the youngster knows he’ll need to be at his best just to get on the pitch for the Lions.
And he says he’s keen to work alongside, and learn from, his striking rivals during his time in Scotland.
He said: “I think the best thing with he strikers, with Noubs and Bruce, is that we all bring something different.
“So, we can all work off each other and learn things from each other. It’s not as if we’re three blueprint same strikers.
“Obviously, you’re competing against each other but it’s almost like we can all bring something different to the pitch, which has got to be amazing for Davie.”
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