Long’s contentment is of course partly down to his engagement, but also his love affair with football being reignited at Fir Park.
Five goals from 19 games may appear a fairly modest return since his arrival from Blackpool in the summer, but Motherwell has provided a haven for Long a tumultuous few years after leaving his spiritual home in 2015.
Brought up as an Evertonian, the forward was at Goodison Park from the age of five, graduating up the ranks to make his first-team debut in the Europa League.
A three-year contract would be offered to Long, only for him to turn it down and join Burnley.
“I look back now and probably shouldn’t have left,” said the striker, who has also played for Fleetwood Town, Bolton and Northampton since leaving Merseyside.
“It was so hard. They offered me a contract but I wanted to play first-team football and I took the leap of going to another team to have a different experience, it just didn’t work out. It is what it is.
“Since I left Everton, for the first season I’m really happy playing football again. Everything happens for a reason and hopefully I’ll be back there one day.”
When asked about why his early promise was not fulfilled, Long is candid in his response.
“Instead of working hard in training I’ve sulked and moped around, if I’m being honest. I feel now it’s about getting my head down, work hard and get in the manager’s eye.
“At Burnley I’d have blamed everything, when it was was me. Now it’s about grafting.”