St Mirren academy graduate Lewis Morgan opens up about life in New York and Scotland ambitions
Former St Mirren academy graduate Lewis Morgan is living the American dream as he says he feels “at home” at New York Red Bulls.
The 27-year-old forward, who once sported the black-and-white stripes of the Buddies, has been plying his trade across the pond since 2020 when he switched Celtic Park for David Beckham’s Inter Miami.
Now, in his fourth season in Major League Soccer (MLS) and at New York Red Bulls, Morgan has opened up about life stateside and how it has reignited his love for football.
The Scotland international told the Paisley Daily Express: “America has been treating me brilliant. I have been very lucky for the two clubs that I have played for. The football, first and foremost, has been very good and the league since I got here has got better and better.
“Inter Miami came into the leagues with ambition and was a really good place to play football and live.
“New York Red Bulls more recently is a club that I have found is like my home. I love playing here, love the people that work at the club and I have no complaints at all.”
The Pailsey-born footballer has scored 30 goals in 68 games since moving to New York Red Bulls – making it the most goals he has scored at a single club.
Morgan – who turned out for St Mirren 118 times – admitted that he never saw himself where he is now when dreaming as a youngster about what he thought he could achieve.
“When I first moved to the league it was exciting,” he reflected on his move to America. “I think the opportunity to play for Miami was one that I couldn’t turn down. I always thought I would have regretted not going.
“And here in New York, it’s probably the most I’ve enjoyed since probably coming through and playing at St Mirren, to be honest.
“When I was 17 years old, I was just thinking about playing for St Mirren and getting in the team and playing. So, I never really looked too far in front of where I thought I was going to get to.
“I’ve had a love for the game and wanted to play on a Saturday. That’s always been my goal. So, I’m probably now thinking back on it as a part of a long journey I’ve come on; from being at St Mirren all the way through to here."
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The European Championships in Germany are beginning to slip into the distant past for many Scotland fans who travelled over for the tournament spectacle which became a huge disappointment thanks to one draw and two defeats.
However, Morgan says the experience has added fuel to his fire when it comes to making his mark in dark blue.
After being named in Steve Clarke’s latest squad, Morgan came on twice as a late substitute for both of Scotland's Nations League games as the Tartan Army watched their side fall to successive defeats.
An injury-time penalty against penalty against Poland saw the Scots slump to a 3-2 defeat whereas a late goal from Cristiano Ronaldo broke Scotland's hearts as he sealed a late 2-1 win for his team.
Morgan insists that he is aiming to stay in Clarke's future squads after having a taste of the action.
“I think when I look back on my career,” he said, “it’s probably going to be my most proud moment – representing Scotland in a major competition.
“It was a bit of a whirlwind when I got called up and now that I’m in the set-up, I don’t want to come back out of it.
“There were four or five years spent there where I was on the outside looking in but hopefully I can bring something to the group.”
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