Motherwell

Image source, Getty Images

Motherwell have signed left-back Dominic Thompson on a deal until the end of the season after his deal with League One Blackpool was terminated by mutual consent earlier this week.

The 24-year-old made his first senior appearance for Brentford having come through the Arsenal academy, before signing for Blackpool in 2022.

Thompson did not start a league game for the Seasiders this season and heads north of the border in search of regular minutes.

"I'm excited to be here in Scotland," Thompson said.

"I wanted to continue playing regular first-team football, and the opportunity to join Motherwell and play in the Scottish Premiership was an exciting prospect for myself personally.

"The manager has a real track record of developing players and enhancing their qualities on the pitch, and I felt that Motherwell would be the perfect place for me to develop my game."

Image source, SNS

Simo Valakari is hoping the paperwork for Jonathan Svedberg's move to St Johnstone squad is completed in time for the Swedish midfielder to play.

Defender Daniels Balodis - having left Latvian side FK RFS - will have to wait for his move to be sealed. Cammy MacPherson (hip) is working his way back but Uche Ikpeazu (knee) and Sam McClelland (Achilles) remain sidelined.

Motherwell could hand debuts to Ellery Balcombe and Luke Armstrong, while Liam Gordon and Harry Paton will be assessed.

Jack Vale begins a two-match ban while Apostolos Stamatelopoulos (calf), Lennon Miller, Steve Seddon (both ankle), Ross Callachan (hamstring), Paul McGinn (thigh), Aston Oxborough (thumb) and Zach Robinson (Achilles) remain out along with Jair Tavares.

Clive Lindsay
BBC Sport Scotland

As chief executive Brian Caldwell pointed out when revealing Motherwell had rejected a couple of offers for teenage talisman Lennon Miller, there is hardly a crisis brewing at Fir Park considering they sit fifth in the Premiership - nine points better off than the same stage last season.

However, with just one victory in eight outings, it has still not prevented some grumblings of discontent among the support directed at manager Stuart Kettlewell.

Particularly after last weekend's Scottish Cup exit away to a St Johnstone side who had gone nine games without a win - five at home - and slipped nine points adrift at the bottom.

Well get an immediate chance to gain revenge as they return to McDiarmid Park on league duty.

As Caldwell also pointed out, injuries have hit Kettlewell particularly hard, with 18-year-old Miller a key absentee.

Well have therefore bolstered their squad this week by adding Brentford goalkeeper Ellery Balcombe, who spent the first half of the season on loan to St Mirren, and striker Luke Armstrong from Carlisle United.

St Johnstone manager Simo Valakari has been busy adding to his squad too, although it remains to be seen whether the latest arrival, former Halmstads midfielder Jonathan Svedberg, is given clearance in time to play.

Whoever plays, that cup win will have given the hosts belief they can extend Well's five-game run without an away win and reverse the two 2-1 league defeats by the visitors this season.

Read all the weekend Premiership picks

Image source, Getty Images

Motherwell have signed Carlisle United's Luke Armstrong on loan until the end of the season, with manager Stuart Kettlewell saying there were a "lot of clubs competing" for the striker's signature.

Englishman Armstrong already knows Scottish football as he made his professional debut at Cowdenbeath in 2015 when the Blue Brazil plied their trade in League One.

The former Middlesbrough and Salford City forward has scored six goals in 45 games for Carlisle, who currently sit bottom of English League Two.

"Luke is combative, capable of finding pockets of space in the box, and an accurate finisher," said Kettlewell.

"We were looking for a player who held these attributes and Luke perfectly fit the profile."

Armstrong is Motherwell's fourth January recruit, following midfielder Kai Andrews, and goalkeepers Archie Mair and Ellery Balcombe.

Image source, SNS

• While St Johnstone knocked Motherwell out of the Scottish Cup last week, they have lost both of their league meetings with the Steelmen this season (both 2-1), last losing three in a row against them in the top flight in April 2012.

• Motherwell are unbeaten in five league visits to St Johnstone (W2 D3), and could win successive such trips for the first time since November 2012 under Stuart McCall.

• St Johnstone are winless in nine league games (D2 L7), last going 10 without victory in January 2022 under Callum Davidson.

• Motherwell have won just one of their past seven away league outings (D1 L5), a 1-0 victory at St Mirren in December. The Steelmen have scored just four goals (and never more than once in a game) in this spell.

• St Johnstone's Benjamin Kimpioka has attempted more dribbles (85) than any other player in the Scottish Premiership, with 42 of his take-ons coming following a ball carry, also a league high.

Motherwell manager Stuart Kettlewell has confirmed a "very significant" bid for Lennon Miller has been rejected but believes the 18-year-old Scotland Under-21 midfielder will still be at Fir Park next season unless interested clubs substantially increase what is being offered. (Daily Record), external

Read Friday's Scottish Gossip in full.

Image source, SNS

Image source, SNS

Motherwell have signed goalkeeper Ellery Balcombe on loan from Brentford until the end of the season.

The 25-year-old spent the first half of the campaign on loan at fellow Scottish Premiership side St Mirren where he made 26 appearances.

"I'm delighted to make the move to Motherwell," Balcombe said.

"One thing I noticed when I was playing for St Mirren was the competitiveness of the league and the atmosphere at most stadiums. This is a great opportunity for me to come back and do it again."

Manager Stuart Kettlewell added: "I'm really pleased to welcome Ellery to the club.

"We've not had our issues to seek with regards to injuries within the goalkeeping department. Ellery has played plenty of football this season in this league, so he won't need a settling-in period."

Image source, SNS

Motherwell boss Stuart Kettlewell has dismissed criticism of his tactics by people who have never "walked in the shoes" of a manager.

The Steelmen were knocked out of the Scottish Cup as they lost meekly 1-0 to the Scottish Premiership's bottom club St Johnstone.

Kettlewell, who takes his side back to Perth on league duty on Saturday with Motherwell in fifth place, has been criticised by a section of his own fans.

"There's a lot of experts out there and a lot of people that know better than the folk that have actually walked in the shoes and experienced the trials and tribulations," he said.

"You get things right, you get things wrong. This time of year – weather conditions, pitches – often dramatically changes from what it looks like on the first day of the season. That has a huge bearing on football.

"Last season we had so many plaudits at times for how we were playing, the style of football, keeping possession, creating chances. We went 15 games and never won a game of football."

The former Ross County manager's side are nine points better off than at the same point last season and he says he cannot afford to pay attention to outside opinions.

"You have to blank out a lot of that noise. There's a lot of people that I respect in the game that have that experience, a lot of people that I would listen to their opinion," he added.

"I'm not disregarding or disrespecting anybody. But it's safe to say I'll not be influenced by any noise or opinions from people that have never done the job and never dedicated their life to this game."

Image source, SNS

Former Motherwell winger Jamie Murphy thinks the club will "have to sell" highly-rated midfielder Lennon Miller in the summer.

The 18-year-old, whose contract runs to May 2026, has been subject of two rejected bids this month amid speculation Serie A side Udinese had offered £2.5m.

"I don't know the number in particular that they're looking for, but fair play to them for holding out," said Murphy on the BBC's Scottish Football Podcast.

"I know he's out with a little injury at the minute, but he's still going to go out and do well and they'll be able to get more for him.

"I think they hold on until the summer and then I think you have to sell him.

"With a year to go, you have to accept some sort of money for him, especially when it's that volume of money."

Motherwell fans, we asked for your views Lennon Miller's future at Fir Park.

Here's what some of you had to say:

Frazer: I think Miller is worth at least £5m but I would rather he move in summer.

Dave: Miller should get himself away as soon as possible before Stuart Kettlewell drags him down to the type of player he wants - at best, average. He has so much potential and is already so far ahead of the players at his age group in Scotland.

Eddie: I think he should go sooner rather than later, it's not doing his portfolio any good playing in a non-footballing and defensive team.

Louise: Lennon Miller won't go, even if he did he'd make sure we get a good payout for him. He's 10 times better than David Turnbull and he went for £3.5m. So I'm expecting £4m+ at least for Lennon.

Jim: Lennon Miller has to be worth north of £5m, an incredible talent who is rated as seventh in the world for his age and stats. He is, in my opinion, the best player in Motherwell colours since the great Davie Cooper, yes that good! If Turnbull is sold for over £3m and Theo Bair for £1.6m then it's easy to arrive at a valuation of more than £5m for Lennon.

Andrew: There is no doubt the lad will go, it's which window he will go in. Like everything else, if the price is right in any window, the club will not be able to refuse the financial gain. I suspect the realistic figure will be somewhere around £3.5m with add-ons.

Gerry: Motherwell are excellent at developing young players and reinvigorating experienced players. These players deliver points and keep us in the top league. But, we must sell at key times (Turnbull, Bair) to max out our income. The next six months is when Lennon Miller should deservedly step into the limelight elsewhere and reward 'Well with a payday.

Martin: Lennon is a real talent and, when fit again, will get regular game time at 'Well. His next move needs to be away from Scotland to develop further and flourish into the player all 'Well fans believe he can be. He should stay until the summer but bids need to be nearer the £4m or more as players with his potential don't come along every day.

Nick McPheat
BBC Sport Scotland

Image source, Getty Images

When Max Johnston first met Mika Biereth, Motherwell was the first thing on their minds.

Fir Park academy graduate Johnston had just left Lanarkshire when striker Biereth made the move to Stuart Kettlewell's side on loan from Arsenal.

But, only six months later, their paths eventually crossed in Austria at Sturm Graz.

"When Mika first joined, Motherwell was the first thing we spoke about," right-back Johnston tells BBC Scotland.

Biereth had just finished a brief loan at Fir Park. Despite a lengthy injury, the Danish youngster still managed to net six goals and provide five assists in just 15 games.

The forward was then recalled by Arsenal and sent to Graz, where his loan became permanent after another free-scoring spell.

The 21-year-old's remarkable rise resulted in a move to Monaco earlier this month for a reported fee of up to 15 million euros.

"Mika's a top, top player," Johnston says of his former team-mate.

"He's a goal scorer, which is exactly what you want from a striker. He's powerful and he's quick. There's not much more you can ask for.

"And he really enjoyed his time at Motherwell. Obviously we know a few of the same boys so we spoke about it a lot, his time and my time.

"He only ever had good things to say."

Following the news Motherwell have rejected "a couple of offers" for teenage midfielder Lennon Miller, we want your views.

Amid reports Serie A side Udinese had had a bid of around £2.5m rejected for the 18-year-old, what do you think Miller is worth?

And with 18 months remaining on the Scotland Under-21 international's contract, is now the best time to cash in?

Have your say here, external

Image source, SNS

Jenna Thomson
Fan writer

I was unfortunately correct with predicting we would lose at least one of our back-to-back games against St Johnstone.

I could honestly copy and paste my comments from past week after the loss at Hibs and it wouldn't be wrong after the shambles that was the cup game.

When you practically sell out an away allocation and it is wasted with that type of performance, the players should hang their heads in shame.

Where is the team that narrowly missed out on three points against Rangers and the one that beat Aberdeen 2-0? How we've gone from that to being incapable of beating a bottom-of-the-table side is embarrassing.

If I want to be somewhat positive, I can argue going out of the cup is a good thing as the league is more important. That is true, however it would've been nice to not go out at the first hurdle.

Now we have to prepare for another painful trip to Perth this weekend, but with a bit of luck we will have sussed them out and play with a much stronger game-plan.

Image source, SNS

Udinese have had a bid of around £2.5m rejected by Motherwell for midfielder Lennon Miller, 18. (Sky Sports), external

Read Tuesday's Scottish gossip

Image source, SNS

Stuart Kettlewell has told his Motherwell players "to suck up the criticism" after their Scottish Cup exit to St Johnstone.

The travelling Steelmen support let their frustration be heard at half-time and full-time as they watched their side muster up just one shot on target against the side bottom of the Scottish Premiership.

"I've said to the players that what you've done before, where you sit in the league, it doesn't matter, it comes down to today," Kettlewell said.

"Making excuses about us having nine players out, that you would make a case for them all maybe playing in our team, none of that matters, it's just excuses.

"How supporters react is going to be down to the score, sometimes the performance and then that's ultimately how it goes as a football player.

"You either suck that up and you realise that that's what it is and you react positively to it or you disappear and you go into your shell and that's not going to work out well for anybody.

"We speak about being 16 points clear of St Johnstone. It didn't look like that on the face of the performance but you try to remind the players that there's a reason why you find yourself in the top half of the table."

We asked for your thoughts after Motherwell were dumped out of the Scottish Cup with a 1-0 defeat by St Johnstone.

Here's what you had to say:

David: Thousands of fans travelled in hope of continuing our cup dreams, what unfolded was a nightmare. Stuart Kettlewell says we didn't start the game well, we haven't played a first half for most of the season, surely that reflects on the manager - if he can't motivate the team for a cup game, when can he?

Stuart: The worry is this score was predictable. The team aren't up for the fight. I only remember their keeper making one routine save. Tawanda Maswanhise was the one bright spark, the rest of the team need to look at him and follow.

Ross: Miles off it like we have been for a number of weeks now. Injuries, yes, but we have to be making a better account of ourselves in a knockout tie. Teams are now aware that when they score first we'll have little to no reply. We look disjointed and without a clear plan of how to break teams down. Going to be a long second half of the season I fear.

Stuart O: Two very poor teams who will end up bottom two teams in the league. Motherwell have no structure, get overrun in midfield week in, week out and create nothing going forward. Lack of effort, flair and no entertainment value. Poorest Motherwell team in a long time.

James: An absolute disgrace and embarrassment. Played off the park by a bottom of the league team. Both players and management have to look at themselves. Same story every week, terrible to watch, no control, no first touch, high aimless balls, and no threat. If I could swear on here I would. God knows how we're still fifth in the table.

Billy: Time for change. Every week the manager has an excuse, so much dead wood in the squad. We are on the slide and going to be in a relegation battle. All those coaches in the dugout, what do they actually contribute to the team because there's nothing to show for it on the park.

Luke Armstrong was left out of the Carlisle United squad on Saturday, with the striker linked with a move to Motherwell. (News & Star), external

Read the rest of Sunday's Scottish gossip.

Makenzie Kirk's early strike helped St Johnstone banish their Premiership blues as they earned a first home win over Motherwell in three years to claim a place in the Scottish Cup last 16.

A whirlwind start brought Kirk's goal inside the first 10 minutes, scrambled in from a Graham Carey corner.

The legs of Motherwell keeper Archie Mair then prevented debutant Victor Griffith from doubling the advantage shortly afterwards when he was sent clear on goal.

Had Simo Valakari's side been tidier with their finishing, their win could have been a whole lot more comfortable.

They were unrecognisable from the side who had lost seven of their previous nine and are adrift at the bottom of the league.

Motherwell fans, did you make the trip to Perth or were you following the action from home? Either way we want your views on the performance.

Have your say, external

Image source, SNS

Motherwell manager Stuart Kettlewell: "I'm really disappointed.

"I didn't feel we started the game at all and let St Johntsone impose themselves on us.

"We lacked the body language at times to take part in the game and if you do that against any opposition you're going to find it difficult.

"We were chasing the game, we showed a reaction in the second half, we had the ball and the run of the game but we didn't create enough or get ourselves into positions where someone could make themselves a hero and get an equaliser.

"I would be disappointed if my team goes out the cup too. I've reminded my players that the knee jerk reaction of Scottish football is that nobody cares that you're in the top half of the table, that you had a good run in the cup last season. None of that matters.

"If you want to stand up and be counted through angry reactions then if you're not able to stand up to that you can't play here.

"That's the task and the test in what will be a difficult game coming here next week."

Image source, SNS

Motherwell defender Kofi Balmer says the opportunity to play at Hampden is a "massive" driving force for players in the Scottish Cup.

Balmer, 24, played in November's League Cup semi-final defeat by Rangers at the national stadium and also has experience in the latter rounds of knockout competitions in Northern Ireland.

He lost both the League Cup and Irish Cup finals with Ballymena, but is targeting Scottish Cup success when Motherwell face St Johnstone at McDiarmid Park in the fourth round on Saturday.

"For the younger players, me included, you never really get the opportunity often," he said.

"If you get the opportunity to play at Hampden, it's massive. Just having that sort of motivation, that's where you could end up if you get through the rounds.

"Obviously, we're not looking that far ahead now, we'll take it as a game as it comes.

"But just having that in the back of your head, that's where you could end up playing, it's massive, it's great motivation for everyone on the team."