IF you are partial to a flutter, then Motherwell striker Curtis Main might just have the tip of the season for you on the opening weekend.

The Fir Park forward was surprised to learn that he is a 100/1 outsider to be the Premiership top scorer this term, with 33 players ahead of him in the pre-season markets.

Main bagged eight goals after joining the Lanarkshire club in January from Portsmouth, and he already has two goals in three appearances in the Betfred Cup group stage this summer. And he is confident that the bookies may well have egg on their faces come the end of the campaign, as he fully intends to be among the runners and riders at the top of the goal-scoring charts.

“I might have to take a look at that and make a few phone calls,” Main said.

“I’m sure that’s not a reflection on me personally, it’s probably more to do with who players play for.

“The players who were in the top six, I’m sure all their centre-forwards will be ranked higher than me and be expected to score more goals and be more successful.

“I’m sure that will play a part, but as we showed last year, we can definitely compete, and we can definitely score goals, and it’s my job in the team to do that.

“I’ll be relishing that. In my head, I know where I want to be. I’m working hard to get there.

“I’ve picked up a couple of goals in the League Cup games, but the league starts now and that’s your bread and butter.

“I’m looking forward to the game on Sunday and looking forward to having a successful league campaign.

“Do I see myself up amongst the top scorers in the league? Yeah, I definitely do. I’d expect myself to be near the top.”

Main believes that his partnership with new arrival Conor Sammon can blossom and help not only his own cause in finding the net, but help Motherwell towards another successful campaign.

“There’s work to be done and it’s still early doors, but he’s definitely someone I can link up well with and he can hopefully provide a few assists to help me get a few more goals,” he said.

“I wouldn’t fancy lining up against that if I’m honest. I’m sure there will be a few tough battles that lie ahead for centre-forwards in the league, put it that way.

“I’ve come across him in the past and I know what his strengths are. I’ve played against him and now I’m training with him every day, so I’ll be working hard to compliment his game as well as the other forwards at the club.”

Main has found a home at Fir Park after a somewhat nomadic career in the lower leagues in England, and he feels that finally being settled will help him to show his best form this term, starting in tomorrow’s visit to face Hibernian at Easter Road.

“I’m definitely excited for the start of the new season,” he said.

“Last season was a little bit different because I was coming off the back of an indifferent campaign when I had a lot of injury problems.

“That’s not the case now. I’m coming off the back of the six months I had with Motherwell which were fairly successful, so I’m keen now to really push on from last year and be more productive than last season.

“It’s a great environment here, the dressing room is brilliant and everybody says it. It’s no secret that it is one of the big things about the club, all the lads really get on and you can see that on the pitch by the way we play.

“Everyone is there to help each other, so coming back for pre-season was quite enjoyable knowing I was part of that.

“There’s been some new additions who have enhanced the squad, and it’s been a successful pre-season.

“We’re quietly confident that we can have a successful season.”