Motherwell

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New Motherwell chairman Kyrk Macmillan aims to keep Lennon Miller at the club for "as long as possible".

The 18-year-old midfielder, who is under contract at Fir Park until summer 2026, has been linked with Celtic and Rangers after emerging as a standout young talent.

Miller has played more than 50 games since his Motherwell debut in 2022 and while Macmillan accepts the club's "model" means they will have to cash in at some point, he hopes the midfielder has plenty more appearances in claret and amber to come.

"Lennon's done incredibly well since he came into the first team, obviously he's now captain of the club over the last couple of matches, did it at Hampden as well for the semi-final," Macmillan, who was appointed Well chairman earlier this month, told Sky Sports.

"I think ultimately it's about Lennon's growth journey and we want him to stay at Motherwell as long as possible.

"It's great watching him every Saturday, he gets supporters excited and people are really excited to engage with him and his journey in football.

"There may come a time where Lennon decides, 'I want to try something new in another environment', but ultimately we want to make his time at Motherwell as successful as it can be.

"That is who we are as a football club and that will be the same for Lennon as it will be, hopefully, for other players in the future as well."

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Lennon Miller will line up for Scotland Under-19s against Wales today. But should he instead be in Steve Clarke's main squad for the Nations League visit of Croatia on Friday night?

At 18, Miller already has more than 50 club appearances under his belt and is the most exciting young talent at Scottish football right now.

Among those who believe he should be fast-tracked to a full Scotland cap are Sunday Mail chief football writer Scott McDermott.

"He should have been involved in this squad," McDermott told the BBC's Scottish football podcast.

"I just think exposing him to that environment at a young age would have done him the world of good. Just bringing him in, having a look at him, having the other players see him in training as well, letting the boy know himself the standard that he's got to get to.

"There's not many friendly games in international football now so you don't really get many opportunities to blood these guys."

Miller's first-team experience at a tender age is the exception rather than the norm in the current Scottish game. A report by the Scottish FA earlier this year concluded that clubs in Scotland are failing to bring through enough young players.

"I do think it's a cultural problem," said McDermott. "There does seem to be a fear about throwing young players in early.

"I think young players need two things. The first one is a given and that's talent. The second one isn't and that's opportunity. These boys need a chance to play in first teams.

"A few years ago in Motherwell's academy, Miller played alongside Bailey Rice, who is at Rangers currently. If you ask most people, at that time Rice was on a par if not maybe even better than Miller.

"But look at the two of them now, the progress they've made. Rice, who's been in and around the Rangers first team, has never quite had an opportunity. It feels like he's playing catch-up now. So yeah, talent and opportunity."

Jane Lewis
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

The pause in domestic action is no time for rest at Motherwell after a bright start to the season.

Stuart Kettlewell has plans for the players who won't be away with their respective nations during this international break.

He revealed those who have not seen much game team will take part in a bounce game, while he also wants to use this time to "work with players on the training pitch" and "kick on to become a better team".

Motherwell have certainly kicked on from this time last year.

Eleven league games in and Motherwell are sitting on 19 points. Compare that to last season and they were on 11 points at this stage. Eight points better off is a significant and satisfying showing of progression.

But still Kettlewell and his coaching staff want more - the Motherwell players won't be surprised by this.

Something he’ll no doubt be working on in the coming days is being a bit more clinical in front of goal. Only three teams - bottom two Hibs and Hearts plus Ross County - have scored fewer than Motherwell's total of 15 league goals. Making games a little less nervy is something the Motherwell fans would welcome.

What will have pleased Kettlewell is signs of a developing cohesion within the squad, despite the absence of several key players. If those bonds continue to grow, the next 11 games could be just as rewarding for Kettlewell and his team.

Jenna Thomson
Fan writer

Things are feeling quite settled for Motherwell.

Sitting fifth in the league, our replacement players are performing to a high standard, and the Well Society is working in tandem with the new chief executive.

I'm still not convinced by the decision to give Lennon Miller the armband but I am sure he will grow into the role in time. Stephen O'Donnell - who is out until December - will be sorely missed but it does allow Miller time to develop further as a leader.

Our next run of games after the international break is Ross County away, Hibs at home and Dundee away. These are all very winnable and we need to take nine points from nine to strengthen our top-six charge.

The 2-1 win over St Johnstone was comfortable enough and the last-gasp St Johnstone equaliser was a certainty to be chopped off for handball.

If we can continue the way we have I have no doubts European football will be back at Fir Park soon.

Sportscene pundit Neil McCann analyses Motherwell's 2-1 Premiership victory over "lopsided" St Johnstone.

(Available to UK users only)

Jonathan Sutherland
Sportscene presenter

Although the scoreline was tight, Motherwell dominated large swathes of their match and it was two young players - and two of Stuart Kettlewell's summer additions - who caught the eye.

Right-back Marvin Kaleta was excellent at driving down the flank, putting in a perfect cross to create the opening goal. Impressive in both defence and attack. Marvellous by name, marvellous by nature.

The other stand-out was Tom Sparrow. His arrowed finish across the goalkeeper was an example of Motherwell’s neat and ruthless attacking. Brought real vitality and energy.

Motherwell striker Tony Watt talks to the Scottish Football Podcast about the club's fortunes this season, and praises the job being done by manager Stuart Kettlewell.

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Motherwell manager Stuart Kettlewell hailed Marvin Kaleta's development after the 20-year-old shone in Saturday's 2-1 win over St Johnstone.

The right-back - on loan from Premier League side Wolves - set up Tawanda Maswanhise's opening goal and delivered several more testing crosses on his first ever 90-minute senior appearance.

"We got him 90 minutes, that was brilliant," Kettlewell said. "There's been a bit of a joke with some of the senior guys and we've all had it as young players, he's been cramping up a little bit.

"This is only his fourth senior [start], all in the space of two weeks.

"So it's a brilliant landmark for him to perform that way and to get through the 90 minutes and I genuinely believe that he’ll just grow from strength to strength."

Kettlewell referenced a statistic that Motherwell have given significantly more minutes to Scottish under-21s than any other Premiership club this season, and he is understandably proud of the work done developing young homegrown talent.

"We're by far ahead of every other club in the top flight, which pleases me," Kettlewell said. "That's another thing on top of the seven extra points we've got on last season and the semi-final."

"I know Marvin's not that but again Ewan [Wilson] and Lennon [Miller], I need to keep banging the drum about that.

"I'll add that into the mix, not just Marvin but these young players that are experiencing the trials and tribulations of senior football but they're doing it very, very well at this point and you can see their growth and their development."

What would you like to ask Tom English about Motherwell?

Our chief sportswriter is in the hotseat ready to answer your questions and offer his insight and opinion on your club.

Answers will be provided on Tuesday’s episode of the BBC's Scottish Football Podcast and on this page later in the week.

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Watch highlights of Motherwell's 2-1 win against St Johnstone in the Scottish Premiership.

(Available to UK viewers only)

We asked for your views on Motherwell's 2-1 win against St Johnstone.

Here's what some of you said:

Ronnie: That's the type of football we want to see. High press, fast down the wings and ball on the grass and look what happens. Too deep in the second half and missed Paul McGinn and Stephen O'Donnell's experience to push our team forward.

Stuart: Two really good goals and we could have had more, however we need to sort out possession as without it, it made the last 15 minutes difficult. Still a good win against a key rival.

Eddie: A win today, but only 34 percent possession at home. That'll cost us in some games.

Jane Lewis
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Tawanda Maswanhise was grinning from ear-to-ear for much of Motherwell's magical first half performance against St Johnstone.

And he was still smiling post-match.

After his goal and assist inside the first 35 minutes, the Zimbabwe international can head off on international duty with his head held high.

"I'm really happy. I can't stop smiling, a goal and an assist for myself and I'm buzzing for the result really," he told BBC Scotland.

"Confidence is a big thing in my football journey so I'm just so happy and just keep smiling.

"I know the football we can play and obviously results matter in this league so as long as we keep going.

"We've got Ross County next and we know we can beat them, we are going to beat them, so I'm looking forward to getting another goal in the next league game."

The trip to Dingwall is just under two weeks away, though, and between now and then, the 21-year-old will join up with his national team.

"Going away it's a different environment and stuff, and then obviously coming back, you've got to adjust again so it shouldn't be too much of a change, but I'm ready for Ross County, that's my next focus."

• St Johnstone attempted four shots on target in this match, higher than their season average of 3.3 in the Premiership.

• St Johnstone have scored in their last five Premiership games.

• Motherwell have conceded three goals in the first 15 minutes of the second half, only St Johnstone (four) and Ross County (four) have conceded more in the Premiership this season.

St Johnstone manager Simo Valakari endured a difficult return to Fir Park as Motherwell inflicted a third straight Scottish Premiership defeat on his side.

What did you make of Motherwell's performance? Is a top-six finish now a distinct possibility?

Let us know your thoughts., external

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Motherwell manager Stuart Kettlewell: "I thought we started slow but as soon as we started turning the ball over we knew there would be a lot of open space and areas we could cause St Johnstone problems.

"That proved to be the case. We converted two really good chances. We started the second half absolutely fine but where the story changes is the penalty for St Johnstone.

"There was some nervous energy in the stadium, but we showed a bit of composure after they scored their penalty. It was just the last six or seven minutes when they had a lot of ball but our goalkeeper didn't have a save to make at the end.

"It's a good day's work for us. We're seven points better off than we were at this stage last season which is quite significant, and we've been in a national semi-final. So everyone can see there has been progression at this club."

Thomas Duncan
BBC Sport Scotland

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It was a masterful first-half performance from Motherwell which won this game. Manager Stuart Kettlewell and his players knew Simo Valakari's St Johnstone are more expansive than they have been in years, but also more vulnerable.

Time and again they broke at speed when Saints lost the ball, getting down the sides of centre-backs Jack Sanders and Kyle Cameron.

Right-back Marvin Kaleta was at the heart of that and was excellent at driving down the flank, putting in a perfect cross to create the opening goal.

Tom Sparrow's arrowed finish across the goalkeeper was another example of their neat and ruthless attacking.

Kettlewell continues to get the most out of this group as they make a strong case to finish in the top six this season.

They are now seven points clear of seventh place, already a significant gap.

Motherwell make just one enforced change to the XI which lost at Hampden against Rangers. Centre-back Liam Gordon serves the second game of his suspension and is replaced my midfielder Tom Sparrow. Harry Paton is on the bench for the first time this season after injuring his ankle during the summer.

• Follow the action

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The suspended Liam Gordon will miss out against former club St Johnstone while Harry Paton and Johnny Koutroumbis might be on the bench but are short of match fitness.

Motherwell remain without Stephen O'Donnell (hamstring), Paul McGinn (thigh), Callum Slattery, Sam Nicholson (both knee), Ross Callachan (hamstring) and Jack Vale (calf).

St Johnstone goalkeeper Ross Sinclair misses out but his injury is not serious.

Lewis Neilson and Andre Raymond return while Croatian centre-half Bozo Mikulic could make his debut.

Uche Ikpeazu is back in training following knee surgery while Cammy MacPherson (hip) and Sam McClelland (Achilles) remain out.

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Simo Valakari admits he has not been back to Motherwell since leaving the club 24 years ago as he looks forward to a reunion on Saturday when he takes his St Johnstone side to Lanarkshire.

The Finn joined Motherwell in 1996 as a player and spent four years at the club before leaving to join Derby County.

"It is nice to go back to Fir Park because that was the place I started my professional career," Valakari said.

"I played my last game for Motherwell in 2000 when we beat Rangers 2-0. It’s now 24 years, I have not been back there.

"It will be nice to see the stadium again, to see the fans, but we have a big job with St Johnstone and this is our thing now, so full focus."

Valakari was full of praise for Stuart Kettlewell's side, who sit fifth after a solid start to the Premiership campagin.

"I have been watching and following Motherwell a long time, for many reasons," Valakari added.

"I see a very strong team who have a good team chemistry who are working for each other, who have some special players, with some pace, some good midfielders with the ball, some good defenders. It’s a very solid team. We need to find our way to hurt the opponent."

And while he focused on Saturday's match, Valakari admitted he never thought he'd return to the Scottish game.

"Not even one day did I think I would get the chance to manage in the Scottish Premiership," he said "I have been working very hard to get here and I am so happy and proud to be manager of St Johnstone.

"It’s a great moment to go back there but... we leave the nostalgia. Great memories, they never go, I never forget them, but now it’s a new chapter."

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Midfielder Tom Sparrow insists there is "more to come" from Motherwell amid their bright start to the seaon.

The 21-year-old says the injury-hit Steelmen have put last weekend's League Cup semi-final defeat by Rangers behind them and are focused on St Johnstone's visit on Saturday.

"We put it to bed, we have an important game on Saturday that we need to focus on," said Sparrow.

"We just need to keep going. I think there's more to come from us.

"The injuries is a big thing, you look at the squad from the weekend and there were a lot of lads missing who would have played a big part of that, which is important.

"But we are fourth in the table with them missing so the other lads have done really well. Hopefully when everyone's back and fit, we will kick on even more.

"I feel settled now. I've had a couple of starts and hopefully some more. Everyone's been brilliant and I just want to kick on and keep improving."

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Stuart Kettlewell is urging his Motherwell side not to have a Hampden hangover as they look to bounce back from their League Cup disappointment without injured right-back Stephen O'Donnell.

Motherwell welcome St Johnstone to Fir Park on Saturday and the manager stressed it is imperative to "take care of league action" and park the disappointment of Sunday's semi-final defeat by Rangers.

"That's what I said, don't have a hangover and that disappointment," he said. "But you've got another opportunity to do it as well. As difficult as that might be, this football club under Stephen Robinson managed to do that some six years ago, get to Hampden a few times in the season.

"But I don't think you'll ever achieve anything unless you're taking care of the league action. So very simply, they have to take the good aspects of it, you have to be motivated by the negative side of it.

"But it's not just about cup football, that's about trying to take that into league action for us as well."

Motherwell will need to do it without O'Donnell, who missed out on Sunday with a hamstring injury and is set to endure a spell on the sidelines.

"He's going to be out for a period of time," Kettlewell said. "It's difficult to put the exact date on that but we know categorically he'll be out for at least another four weeks and potentially into December."

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Motherwell manager Stuart Kettlewell has been addressing the media before his side's Premiership match against St Johnstone this weekend.

Here are the key points:

• The manager says the new board "share his vision" of moving the club forward in a "positive way".

• Kettlewell is "not having to pick players up off the canvas" following their League Cup semi-final defeat by Rangers: "We're OK, we're fine despite unbelievable disappointment on Sunday night and Monday morning but we're desperate to get back into league action."

• He has urged his players "not to have a hangover" after the cup exit.

• Lennon Miller is also "absolutely fine" due to his maturity, despite captaining Motherwell in the weekend defeat.

• Kettlewell says his side have "undoubtedly" improved from last season and he is "jealous" of the young players who played at Hampden on Sunday.

• Stephen O'Donnell will be out for "at least another four weeks and potentially into December".

• After their 2-1 win in August, Motherwell are looking for back-to-back league victories over St Johnstone for the first time since November 2019.

• St Johnstone have won three of their last four away league games at Motherwell (D1), this after having lost four of their previous five such trips beforehand (W1).

• Motherwell have lost their last two home league games, last losing more on the bounce in November 2022 (4).

• St Johnstone have conceded more goals in the Scottish Premiership this season than any other side (25), keeping just two clean sheets in their 12 matches so far. Indeed, only Dundee (19.0) have a higher expected goals against total in the division this term than the Perth side (17.4).

• Motherwell have had fewer shots (108) than any team in the Scottish Premiership this season, while only Hibernian and Ross County (both 10) have scored fewer goals than the Steelmen (13).