Motherwell could see three key players return from injury for Saturday's vital Premiership match against St Mirren. Manager Alfred Johansson has indicated that Oscar Priestman, captain Paul McGinn and striker Callum Hendry are all in contention for selection if final assessments are positive.
The potential comebacks arrive at a critical moment. Motherwell sit 10th in the Premiership with just nine points from 11 games, having recorded only two wins and three draws all season. Their recent form of one draw and four defeats has extended their winless run to 12 matches. The last outing was a 2-2 draw at St Johnstone on Wednesday 28 October, where a stoppage-time header from Josh Campbell denied them a much-needed victory after goals from Ibrahim Said and Tawanda Maswanhise had put them ahead.
Johansson said the dressing room showed real fire in dissecting that late goal, with players taking responsibility and debating openly. He stressed the need for his team to learn a more pragmatic and cynical approach to see out games in the final moments.
Priestman, the Australian midfielder, has been recovering from a calf problem. Club captain McGinn is stepping up his return from summer knee surgery, while Hendry offers a forward option. Their collective experience and understanding of Motherwell's build-up play have been sorely missed during this difficult period, which followed a promising six-match unbeaten start to the season. The team's struggles are reflected in their overall record of 13 goals scored and 20 conceded, leaving them with a minus seven goal difference and a daunting 19-point gap to league leaders Celtic.
St Mirren, who sit seventh, visit Fir Park on Saturday 31 October. The last meeting between the sides in August ended in a dramatic 3-3 draw. Motherwell's top scorer this season is A. Lowry with three goals in nine appearances. The club's full fixtures and standings are available online.
Alfred Johansson confirmed all three players are equally as frustrated as anyone with the team's situation and are pushing to be involved this weekend. The squad will be desperate to improve on a recent run of results that includes a 2-0 home loss to Heart of Midlothian on 25 October, a 3-2 defeat at Kilmarnock on Saturday 17 October, and losses to Celtic and Dundee.
More detail at inkl.com
