Motherwell new boy Ryan Bowman keen to get going in Premiership

Striker Ryan Bowman revealed that Motherwell were one of a number of clubs who approached him late on transfer deadline day - but he was keen to sample the Premiership.

Motherwell acted quickly after Oxford revived their interest in Marvin Johnson to sign a player they have been tracking for several months and had a bid accepted by Vanarama National League side Gateshead.

Motherwell also brought in West Ham forward Luka Belic on loan until January, while sending 19-year-old defender Luke Watt to Stranraer for a temporary period and ending Lee Lucas's short-term stay at Fir Park.

The 24-year-old told the Motherwell website: "It's relief really - I spoke to Mark McGhee a couple of times over the off-season and then it went a bit cold so I didn't think anything more of it.

"I didn't think anything was going to happen - me and my agent were laughing before saying we'll be having a chilled day watching the TV.

"Then a couple of clubs came in before Motherwell and I was just rushed off my feet from 5 o'clock onwards.

"It's a different league and a different competition so it's a challenge but I'm just excited to get going."

Former Carlisle trainee Bowman has scored 19 goals in each of his last two seasons - for Torquay and Gateshead - and McGhee feels the 6ft 2in forward will bring an added dimension.

"With the arrival of Ryan it allows us to set up in a 4-3-3 formation, which has brought great success in the past, particularly last season," McGhee said. "He's been top scorer for his clubs over the last two seasons, he's big, powerful, good in the air and runs in behind."

The flurry of business at Fir Park was prompted by Oxford's renewed, after head coach Michael Appleton decided to get "creative" in a new offer for Johnson, with reports claiming the fee could reach £650,000.

Belic was the first player to come in and a more natural replacement for Johnson. The 20-year-old Serbia youth international became the youngest player to play in his country's top flight four years ago before moving to the Hammers.

McGhee said: "Luka is a wiry forward player who can play through the middle or on the flanks. He works extremely hard, particularly without the ball and knows where the net is. He'll give us competition in that area."

Motherwell now have eight first-team players competing for places up front or out wide including Louis Moult, Scott McDonald, Jacob Blyth, Lionel Ainsworth, Dom Thomas and assistant boss James McFadden, while under-20s players Dylan Mackin and Ross MacLean have also been on the fringes.