Motherwell

Nick McPheat
BBC Sport Scotland

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Manager Jens Berthel Askou has refused to rule out in-demand Lennon Miller featuring in Motherwell's Scottish Premiership opener with Rangers on Saturday.

The Scotland midfielder played in the Fir Park side's pre-season friendlies but missed the League Cup group matches with a minor injury.

Askou gave no update on the bids the Lanarkshire club have received for the teenager but revealed he could be part of the squad this weekend.

"He was partially in training [on Thursday] and almost full training [on Friday]," the Dane said prior to Saturday's match at Fir Park.

"Then we'll take a decision on whether it's time for him to be part of the team again on Saturday or whether it's too late while all the other things are working in background."

On whether the club has accepted a bid for Miller, Askou replied: "That is a question not for me but for the board."

The former Copenhagen coach, who would not reveal how many teams are interested in Miller, added: "A lot of things are going on. Interest is increasing every day and every week.

"We'll see when we can say more. There have been some bids and that intensifies the situation around him."

In terms of incomings, Askou wants to "add more depth, more quality and more competition" - but his immediate focus is on Rangers.

The former Norwich player, who was a team-mate of Ibrox boss Russell Martin at Carrow Road, is aiming to implement a brave and expansive style at Fir Park - and he does not want his side to shy away from that approach on Saturday.

"I expect us to do what we want to do and not let the level of Rangers stress us and take away our courage," Askou said.

Nick McPheat
BBC Sport Scotland

Image source, SNS

Manager Jens Berthel Askou has been speaking to the media prior to Motherwell's Scottish Premiership opener at home to Rangers on Saturday.

Here are the key lines:

• On whether the club has accepted a bid for Lennon Miller, Askou says: "That is a question not for me but for the board."

• Askou would not reveal how many clubs are interested in the teenage midfielder, but says Miller could be involved on Saturday.

• He adds: "He was partially in training today and will be almost full training tomorrow. Then we'll take a decision on whether it's time for him to be part of the team again on Saturday or whether it's too late while all the other things are working in background."

• On his team's form going into Saturday's match, Askou says they are getting "better and better" but knows there is "still work to be done".

• "Recent performances have been quite solid, although we know there are areas we haven't practised that much," he adds. "We'll be tested on these areas on Saturday."

• Askou says his current group are "quite harmonic", but he still wants to add to his squad: "We need to add more depth, more quality and more competition."

• On facing Rangers: "We know it'll be a very big test against a top side who performed really well [against Panathinaikos]. We know we're not favourites, but it doesn't mean we can't make a result and good performance."

• On his expectations for the season, Askou's aim is to finish in the top six: "We want to reach out for things and be brave while doing that and not protective and defensive. We'll see how far it takes us."

• And on what he wants from his team on Saturday: "I expect us to do what we want to do and not let the level of Rangers stress us and take away our courage to do what we want to do and what we know we're best at, instead of trying to do it very basically and with fear."

An English League Two club and a number in the Scottish Championship are keen on Kofi Balmer, but it remains to be seen whether Motherwell are willing to listen to offers for the 24-year-old defender. (Daily Record), external

Read Thursday's Scottish Gossip in full.

Jenna Thomson
Fan writer

Where will Motherwell finish in the league and why?

I am bursting with new-season optimism and cannot wait for it to come crashing down in November.

Jokes aside, after seeing the style of play our new manager Jens Berthel Askou has been implementing, I can see us finishing fifth or sixth.

The way we play now is engaging and something we haven't seen at Fir Park before. Playing with wingers has been a breath of fresh air after Stuart Kettlewell's reluctance to sign or field any, and it is paying off.

Who is the best signing or has he not signed yet and who should it be?

Signing wise, it is too soon to tell who is the best. What it will come down to most is who we go for once we inevitably cash in on Lennon Miller.

What do you want from your manager?

My expectations are not massive as it would be unfair to expect miracles from Askou at this stage. If we can reach a cup semi-final and a get top-six finish, I'll be more than happy. European football would be nice too.

Who will be the breakout star in your squad?

So far Tawanda Maswanhise and Callum Slattery have gone from underrated to applauded now that Miller is out of the spotlight. If we can spread the goals between those two I can see them being our two most important players.

What is your biggest concern?

The only thing I'm really concerned about involves Miller. If we get less than expected for him or struggle to replace his ability, we could be in trouble.

However, I don't expect us to suffer hugely as we have shown we can replace important players who have departed in the past, like David Turnbull and Kevin van Veen.

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Motherwell travel to face St Johnstone in the second round of the League Cup.

The Championship side had a flawless record in Group F, winning four from four, while Motherwell topped Group G.

Ties are due to be played on the weekend of 16th/17th August.

With neither Bologna nor Udinese having turned interest in Lennon Miller into a transfer bid, Motherwell manager Jens Berthel Askou is considering giving the 18-year-old Scotland midfielder his first appearance of the season in Saturday's Scottish Premiership opener against Rangers. (Sunday Mail), external

Read the rest of Sunday's Scottish gossip.

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Motherwell brought their league preparations to a close with a 1-1 friendly draw against Hertha Berlin.

The Fir Park hosts fell a goal behind after a short Liam Gordon back pass led to keeper Calum Ward wiping out Jon Thorsteinsson. Fabian Reese converted calmly.

There wasn't much to shout about for the majority of the 3,931 inside Fir Park in the first half before the Steelmen stepped up the pressure late on.

And with the clock ticking down they got their reward with Apostolos Stamatelopoulos turning in a Callum Slattery cross at the front post.

The Steelmen finished the stronger of the two, but Hertha, who finished last season 11th in Bundesliga 2, held firm.

Jen's Berthel Askou, who fielded the same XI to the side which defeated Morton to secure top spot in their Premier Sports Cup group, will see his side kick off their Premiership campaign at home to Rangers on 2 August.

Motherwell have knocked back an approach from Norwegian league leaders Viking for striker Apostolos Stamatelopoulos, with a proposed fee of around £800,000 falling well short of the Scottish Premiership club's valuation of the 26-year-old Australia international. (Anthony Joseph on X), external

Read Friday's Scottish gossip

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Apostolos Stamatelopoulos hopes his first goal in seven months is a sign of better things to come as the Australian striker looks to put an injury-ravaged first season at Motherwell behind him.

Stamatelopoulos was the Steelmen's marquee signing last summer, arriving from Newcastle Jets on a three-year deal, but tore a thigh muscle on his first start.

He then suffered a calf injury in December after scoring his fifth goal of the season against Rangers and was out until March - before his comeback hopes were scuppered as a training-ground shot broke his wrist.

The 26-year-old is up and running in the new campaign, netting in the opener in the 3-0 midweek win over Morton that secured Motherwell's Premier Sports Cup progress, and said: "The whole of last season was pretty tough.

"There was a little bit of a run of games where I thought, okay, I'm starting to feel like myself again and then obviously I got injured again.

"It's the first time that's happened in my career so it's taken a bit of adjusting to get back to that.

"I've had injuries before, but I've only been max eight weeks out. I've only had two before the last season, two big ones in the six years, seven years that I've played professional football.

"So, it's definitely different from anything that I've been used to, but I feel like I'm getting there every day, slowly, slowly.

"So hopefully by the time the season comes, I'm ready to go. I mean, that was the first time I played 90, so I started cramping towards the end, but the body's getting there."

"Once that goal went in, it was just a massive sigh of relief after so long. Getting my first one and thankfully it happened before the season started."

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Udinese, who had a £2.5m offer for Lennon Miller, 18, rejected in January, are ready to try again with an improved offer for the Motherwell midfielder, while Bologna are also keen on the Scotland international. (Sun), external

Read Thursday's Scottish gossip

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Jens Berthel Aksou admits he's heard "a lot of funny stories and rumours" surrounding Lennon Miller's future as the Motherwell midfielder missed out on Tuesday's 3-0 win against Greenock Morton.

The victory means Well are the first team to progress to the second round of the Premier Sports Cup - but Scotland international Miller has not featured amid reports of interest from Italy.

"There's nothing new on Lennon," the manager said. "He wasn't able to be here.

"There's a lot of rumours about Lennon Miller and I've heard a lot of funny stories and rumours.

"The thing is, he's still a Motherwell player and he's very happy to be here, we're very happy to have him here.

"When there's something concrete to comment, then we will do that. I look forward to seeing him on Thursday."

Motherwell have a final friendly against Hertha Berlin on Friday before their attention turns to the start of the Premiership season the following week and Askou is pleased with the "progression" made since the drab draw with Clyde which kicked off their cup campaign.

"I'm happy for everyone who showed up and especially the players who have been working really hard, trying to progress, trying to improve and getting fitter and fitter," he added.

"A lot of the stuff we've been trying to implement went really well. Then finally we also had a bit of effectiveness and some nice, beautiful goals as well.

"It's really good to have players who can, by individual quality, decide the game and they showed that."

We asked for your views on the 3-0 win over Morton which secured Motherwell's place in the Scottish League Cup second round.

Here's what some of you said:

David: Good performance overall, 3-0 was about right to be fair. Struggled recently against Morton in the last couple of seasons, so it was well deserved. Morton manager Dougie Imrie was constantly on to the linesman and fourth official, which showed desperation at times. Most convincing win in the group against probably the most to be feared.

AJ: That was our best performance under Jens Berthel Askou. We dominated the game and got our rewards. Elliot Watt was superb and Tawanda Maswanhise with an early goal of the season contender. It's all coming along nicely.

John: Really starting to see what Askou is trying to do playing out from the back and possession-based football. Just needs more of a cutting edge but that will come. Far cry from the pragmatic football under Stuart Kettlewell.

Richard: The standard of refereeing in the first half was deplorable. Morton should have had a stonewall penalty. These decisions can change games. The linesmen had clear view of the foul. I wasn't a fan of VAR, now I am.

James: Some great possession play, with no cutting edge in the first half. Good to score three against our best opponents so far. Some outstanding performances, notably Longelo, Fadinger, Watt, ApStam, and Maswhinise. Some really good signs, still a couple of players light to complete the squad.

Derek: Great performance last night, a joy to watch and far better than we had witnessed in recent seasons, I still feel there is a lot more to come from the squad under the current style which is even more exciting to think about, still a few additions to come in to further enhance the squad, job done, won the group and into the last 16, roll on the new season!

Livingston are in pole position to land 21-year-old midfielder Aidan Denholm from Hearts despite Scottish Premiership rivals Motherwell also being keen along with Championship pair Ross County and St Johnstone. (Daily Record), external

Read Tuesday's Scottish Gossip in full.

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Stephen O'Donnell is enjoying the challenge of learning fresh "exciting and interesting" demands under Motherwell's third manager of the year.

After two years of relative stability under Stuart Kettlewell - who departed in January - Motherwell appointed their second manager of 2025 when Jens Berthel Askou replaced Michael Wimmer.

The Dane has a similar attacking philosophy to his predecessor but his desire to play the ball out from the back has been more noticeable.

Askou faces a big test on Tuesday when Motherwell host Greenock Morton in the Premier Sports Cup needing victory to guarantee progression to the second round.

On adapting to the new boss, O'Donnell said: "We found it with the old manager when he came in. It was a different kind of style, different ideas and the gaffer has probably amplified that a wee bit more.

"I find it exciting and interesting. You're learning different ideas and different ways in which people think of the game. You're always trying to learn and I think that's something I'm capable of doing. I'm excited to continue to learn.

"I've been enjoying it, trying to work on different things. The most important thing is that we are seeing progression on the pitch and in the style, and hopefully getting the wins that make that progression easier."

Hearts' 21-year-old midfielder, Aidan Denholm, is wanted by Livingston, Motherwell and Ross County. (Joel Sked on X), external

Read Monday's Scottish Gossip in full.

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Manager Jens Berthel Askou says he was "not happy" with Motherwell's second-half display as they laboured to another win over a lower-league side at Stenhousemuir.

Stephen O'Donnell's fortunate back-post finish in the 41st minute proved enough to send the Fir Park side top of their Premier Sports Cup group, but Askou felt his team were too content to sit on their lead at Ochilview.

"The first half was actually quite good," he said in a club video. "We found a high tempo at times, were dangerous also on set-pieces, should have produced some bigger chances.

"But being 1-0 up at half time, it gave us the composure and the calmness in the team that we maybe haven't had the first couple of games where we've been chasing and chasing and chasing.

"And maybe that was the reason that we slowed down a little bit in the second half, I don't know. No matter what, I'm not happy with the performance in the second half.

"We need to produce more, bigger chances in a game like that when we dominate so much."

We asked for your views after Motherwell laboured to another Premier Sports Cup victory at lower-league Stenhousemuir.

Here's what some of you said:

Grant: I know it's early with the new manager and players, but we should be beating teams like this by a few goals. Morton will be well up for it and I wouldn't be surprised if they beat us, we need to step up quickly with Rangers at home our first league game.

Stuart: We need a striker, lots of tippy-tappy football but cutting edge isn't there yet. We will also have to be more secure at the back when we play bigger teams.

James: Again, kept possession well and good movement. Disappointing we've only scored five goals in three games. Bigger test this Tuesday against Morton, should give us a gauge on our progress. But hey-ho, a win's a win.

George: We were on a hiding to nothing here and the game was played in horrendous weather conditions on a dreadful pitch, but even so this was shockingly mediocre.

John: Quite concerned by these narrow wins. Don't seem to have the ability to finish. It's going to be another tough season by the looks of it.

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Jens Berthel Askou's attack-minded philosophy is a "refreshing change" for Motherwell supporters, says Tam Cowan.

The Well fan and BBC broadcaster is enthused by the new era at Fir Park, even though he would struggle to name most of the seven new signings brought in so far.

After Stuart Kettlewell's exit amid claims of fan abuse, and Michael Wimmer's 12-game stint at the helm, 42-year-old Dane Askou is tasked with steering the Steelmen in the new campgin.

"I'm optimistic as you can be when you go to Wikipedia and see that he's had 10 clubs in the last 10 years," said Cowan on the BBC's Scottish Football Podcast.

"The optimist, the glass half full side of me, will say he's clearly been waiting on a move to a big club like Motherwell, a global brand like Motherwell.

"When he first came in it all seemed to be about wanting to play dynamic football, wanting to play on the front foot, wanting to attack.

"You could easily put me on the spot and I would fail to name all of the guys that he's brought in so far, but I think I'm right in saying that quite a few wingers have come in.

"There's undeniably the case for the new manager that he wants us to be an attacking team. The bottom line is after some of the stuff that we had been watching over the past kind of year, 18 months, that'd be quite refreshing for Motherwell fans."

Cowan believes it was a "bold move" to employ the Dane but he's "quietly excited" to see what he has to offer as the new season unfolds.

"I would have would have staked my house on it, that it would either have been Tony Docherty or Robbie Neilson," added Cowan.

"I'd have been more than happy with taking either of those guys to be perfectly honest, the old kind of safe pair of hands, the Scottish booking.

"I thought that was going to be a stick-on after us only getting 12 games out of Michael Wimmer, but I'm quietly excited."

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Jens Berthel Askou is pleased with the early progress of his Motherwell squad and says hoofing the ball out of defence is just one of the "habits" he is trying to change.

The Dane thinks it will take "a little bit of time" for everything to fully click but he saw positive signs in their opening League Cup fixtures.

Motherwell followed their 2-2 draw at Clyde - where they won the penalty shootout - by snatching a last-gasp victory over visitors Peterhead on Tuesday night.

Next up in Group G is a trip to Stenhousemuir on Saturday and Askou said: "First of all, we've seen a squad and a group of players who are very eager to show that they want to learn.

"They're very eager to drive the tempo in the game and to take some initiative, and they've been quite brave in a lot of the phases.

"They've adapted really well and they're really trying and really eager to show that they want to play the style of football we want.

"The development from the game in Clyde to the one on Tuesday night was quite obvious in some phases.

"And then it's also still clear that we need to improve in the effectiveness in the final third, and to how to deal with especially the direct play that we face at the minute with teams going very direct against us.

"First of all, how we stay composed in these situations, and when we can, take the ball down instead of doing what most of the players have been used to throughout their whole career, to just clear the ball up the park as far away as possible, no matter how much time and space they actually have to bring the ball down and play and get the game in our terms. That's something we are still working on, getting these habits in.

"Then, again, trying to lift the tempo every day we train, and the quality, and the decision-making and also the relations in the final third is also about that.

"There's a lot of new players trying to find each other and understand each other. That sometimes takes a little bit of time."