Andreas Makris: Weight lifted after first Walsall goal
Andreas Makris admitted it felt like a weight had been lifted from his shoulders after finally netting his first goal for Walsall.
The striker has taken his time to adapt to English football since joining the Saddlers for a club record fee from Cypriot outfit Anorthosis Famagusta.
But the 21-year-old opened his account for the club in style on Saturday when he netted a stunning 20-yard volley in the 1-1 draw with Oxford.
And the Cypriot international is determined that strike will be the first of many for Jon Whitney's side.
"I’ve felt a lot of pressure and I’ve been through some bad days," Makris said.
"I needed time to settle here but now I am ready. I am settled. I want to kick on and score lots more goals.
"It was a great feeling to get that goal. I needed it. It is a big boost for my confidence and now I will do my best to score more goals for the club and to be better game by game."
Makris' strike produced a rapturous roar from the Banks's crowd with the striker then mobbed by every one of his team mates.
"I want to thank all my team mates, the staff and the coaches," the forward continued.
"They have been waiting for me to score and that is really important for me.
"I have friends here. We are a family and we try and make the best of our abilities and be the best team we can be.
"I could feel the fans were willing me to score. They supported me when I wasn’t doing so well.
"Now I have scored I want to say thank-you to them and I hope I will get a run of goals now."
Makris believes not having a full pre-season impacted his first few months with the club.
"It was hard to settle," he added.
"I came here five days before the start of the season and I was not ready.
"The season in Cyprus starts a month later. I was not ready and in the first few games I was not myself. I could feel that.
"Now I am alright and I am working hard for next season and for the remaining five games of this season because we want to finish it well."
