Motherwell

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Loan striker Tony Watt returns to the Motherwell squad after being unable to play against parent club Dundee United last weekend.

Ross Callachan (hamstring), Paul McGinn (thigh), Callum Slattery (knee), Jack Vale (calf) and Zach Robinson (Achilles) remain out.

Kilmarnock are without the suspended Robbie Deas, while Matty Kennedy remains an injury doubt after missing out against Hearts. Kyle Magennis is set to return after sitting out that game with a bug.

Kieron O'Hara could continue between in goal after Robby McCrorie was forced to be replaced against the Jambos at half-time with an injury. Skipper Kyle Vassell returns after missing the Hearts game as his partner was in labour.

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Stephen O'Donnell insists Motherwell's primary focus this season is to avoid relegation even though they sit fourth in the Scottish Premiership.

Stuart Kettlewell's side have won their last two matches and are eight points ahead of Friday's league opponents Kilmarnock, who sit eighth.

Despite their strong start to the season, defender O'Donnell says they will not be thinking about a top-half league finish until their top-flight status is secure.

"We're sitting in a good position," O'Donnell said. "That's the first thing. We're in a really good position. As always, there's room for improvement.

"And it's always about building new runs. And hopefully on Friday night we can continue and go three on the bounce.

"I'd love to say (fourth place) it's realistic. I'd love to say we should achieve it.

"I think we need to focus on getting to a points total that keeps us safe, keeps us in the league, and from there we then build."

Motherwell were last relegated from Scotland's top flight in the 1983-84 season, and O'Donnell believes pragmatism and not getting carried away is behind that record.

"I think that's how the club has had financial success," the Scotland international continued.

"You start from there and then you can kind of try and kick on. So hopefully that's what we can do.

"We've made a hell of a good start to do that, and the sooner we get to a points tally where we feel safe, then we can maybe look to reassess and kick on from there.

"I'm pessimistic, so we need to make sure that we stay in the league.

"I think that's where Motherwell wants to be, where Motherwell should be.

"If we are fourth it's a hell of a good achievement, or top six, it's a brilliant achievement as well.

"And bottom six is where financially we probably should be. But as a club, we look to overachieve. We look to push ourselves. And that's certainly what we're trying to do."

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• Motherwell have only lost one of their last six league meetings with Kilmarnock (W2 D3), a 0-1 defeat in November 2023.

• Kilmarnock are winless in five league visits to Motherwell (D2 L3) since a 2-0 victory in December 2020 under Alex Dyer.

• Motherwell have won both of their last two league games, but haven't won three on the bounce since September 2023; this is the sixth time since then that they have won back-to-back Scottish Premiership matches.

• Despite playing the most away games of any side in the Scottish Premiership this season, Kilmarnock are one of three sides yet to keep a clean sheet on their travels (also Hearts and St. Mirren). Killie have conceded a league-high 24 away goals in the top-flight in 2024-25.

• Kilmarnock are winless in their last nine Scottish Premiership games played on a Friday (D3 L6), with their last such win coming in October 2014 against Dundee United (2-0). Away from home, their last top-flight win on this day of the week was on New Year's Day 1999 - which was against Motherwell (2-1).

Nick McPheat
BBC Sport Scotland

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Manager Stuart Kettlewell has suggested Scottish FA head of referees Willie Collum feels Motherwell should have received a penalty in Saturday's 4-3 win over Dundee United.

With the score at 3-1 to the home side at Fir Park, United's Luca Stephenson appeared to catch fellow wing-back Steve Seddon in the box.

Kettlewell said the challenge is "as clear a penalty as you'll see" and confirmed both he and Collum saw several incidents in the match "the same way".

United were awarded an earlier spot-kick to make the match 1-1 when a VAR review deemed Liam Gordon to have caught former Well striker Louis Moult, while there were suggestions Apostolos Stamatelopoulos used his arm to assist the hosts' fourth goal.

Kettlewell agreed with both of those calls but was left baffled by the decision to not award his side a penalty for the Seddon incident.

"The conversation [between Collum and I] stays in house, but we saw the incidents the same way," he said.

"I felt it was as clear a penalty as you'll see. It's one we've missed. I will be stunned if it doesn't come out with five votes to zero in favour of a penalty kick [in this week's Key Match Incidents report].

"We were told we should have had [a penalty] against Ross County at 0-0 and the game should have been stopped against Dundee [for a head injury just before they made it 2-1].

"As the season goes on, you hope those decisions go in your favour."

A controversial decision to not award Rangers a penalty for a tug by Liam Scales on Vaclav Cerny in Sunday's League Cup final has dominated headlines this week.

And on the use of VAR in Scotland, Kettlewell added: "We started really, really well [this season]. A large number of decisions were correct. We were making real strides.

"But from a personal point of view, I don't think it's been great of late. But the transparency and communication has dramatically improved."

Nick McPheat
BBC Sport Scotland

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Motherwell manager Stuart Kettlewell has been speaking to the media prior to Friday's Premiership match at home to Kilmarnock.

Here are the key lines:

• Kettlewell says he had a "really good conversation" with Scottish FA head of referees Willie Collum about several decisions in Saturday's 4-3 win over Dundee United.

• The Well boss feels a challenge in the United box on Steve Seddon, while his side were winning 3-1, is "as clear a penalty as you're going to see".

• He adds that the conversation between him and Collum will "stay in house" but says both of them "see the incidents the same way", suggesting Collum also believes Well should have had a penalty for the challenge made by Luca Stephenson.

• On the use of VAR in Scotland, Kettlewell feels the season "started well" but it's "not been great" recently.

• However, he says "communication has drastically improved".

• After responding to three straight losses with back-to-back wins, the Fir Park boss says his squad will not get "too high or low".

• He adds: "You're one game away from being the worst team and worst manager or two wins away from being the best."

• Kettlewell is preparing to face a Kilmarnock side he believes "are a really good team at this level". He also feels Friday night games "have a more special feel".

• Returning Tony Watt, who was ineligible to play against United on Saturday, is the only player coming back into the squad for the Kilmarnock match.

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Motherwell fans, are your passports in date?

Michael Grant, The Times' Scottish football correspondent, sees no reason why the Fir Park club and their supporters shouldn't be thinking about Europe, given their league position.

Stuart Kettlewell's side sit fourth after a strong start to the season with eight wins from 16 games.

It's a tremendous turnaround from last season when the Steelmen endured a 16-game winless run, and justifies their decision to stick by Kettlewell.

That period brought about "real heat," Grant said, but the manager has steadied the ship and deserves credit.

"During that horrible run they went on last season, people were thinking, 'Well, he's done, because that's the way Scottish football moves,' but he's steadied it," Grant said on the BBC's Scottish Football Podcast.

"Sometimes you take your eye off a club a little bit, and when you read that Motherwell had gone up to fourth by beating United you think, 'Wow!'

"It's a tight league and there's not that much between a few clubs.

"Motherwell are in a good position, so listen, why wouldn't you think about Europe if you're there? Good on them, and good on Stuart Kettlewell."

Listen and subscribe to the Scottish football podcast

Jenna Thomson
Fan writer

Not only did we make Jim Goodwin and Declan Gallagher cry, we did so in the most dramatic of fashions.

That is now four wins in a row against Dundee United and every time it gets so much sweeter. The 4-3 result being reminiscent of a certain cup win was just the icing on the cake.

Stephen Frail is a delight of a man. He does not go in front of the cameras often but when he does, he brings out immaculate vibes. He is happy, energetic and seeing how hyped up he gets after wins is sublime.

Every time I watch one of our goals I can't help but fall in love with the thought of a European tour. Early days I know but if we keep this up, Europe is a real possibility.

Kilmarnock at home could make for a beautiful end to the year as I refuse to even think about the games against the Old Firm at Christmas.

Friday night under the lights is screaming out for some delicious pies to keep me warm and three points for the mighty.

Jonathan Sutherland
Sportscene presenter

Marvin Kaleta: Width was key as Motherwell beat Dundee United. Marvin 'marvellous' Kaleta was superb down the right. Great energy and delivery.

Apostolos Stamatelopoulos: The Australian striker is starting to look far more at home in Scotland. Came alive for the Steelmen scoring two and setting up another. On another day could've had a hat-trick.

Watch highlights from Motherwell's 4-3 win against Dundee United in the Scottish Premiership.

Watch Sportscene analysis of Dundee United's penalty award during their 4-3 defeat by Motherwell in the Scottish Premiership.

Watch Sportscene analysis of Motherwell's wing play during their 4-3 win against Dundee United in the Scottish Premiership.

We asked for your thoughts on Motherwell's 4-3 Premiership win against Dundee United.

Here's what you had to say:

Fraser: Lennon Miller bossed that game, composed and led the team, it was a frenetic game at times with loose touches and loose balls but he made the difference. Great battling result for the Well and in the end deserved. Onto Killie and let's have the same again. Good to see Stephen O'Donnell return.

Col: I think our manager is beginning to realise our ultra defensive tactics, no matter the opposition, were becoming part of our problem. He has certainly tweaked the formation towards a more attacking style in recent games and together with some players returning from injury our future looks a lot brighter.

Charlie: Yet again the manager answers his critics but it won't silence them. There are fellow Well fans who still want a manager who is overachieving gone. It's amazing. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion but look at St Johnstone today. Principals only get you so far. I know where I'd rather be sitting in the league table.

William: Fantastic. Everyone played their part, they worked their socks off. Great win. Dundee United are a good team, we were better, keep it going, well done Motherwell.

Norrie: Shades of '91 Scottish Cup final. Great game of football, both sides kept the tempo high. Always a pity when someone has to lose but a great result for the Well.

James: A decent performance. Four goals doesn't happen too often. But to be harsh, win the ball, give it away. Have the ball, give it away. Still, a lot of encouraging signs. Some of Lennon Miller's touches and passing are tremendous. Hope Paul McGinn is back soon.

Ryan: Great win, thought Apostolos Stamatelopoulos was excellent and could've scored a hattrick if he weren't unlucky on occasion. Have to say Tom Sparrow has also been a surprise package of the season for me with his drive coming off the bench solidifying the win.

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• Sam Dalby has scored eight goals in the Premiership this season (two in this game), more than any other player.

• Apostolos Stamatelopoulos scored after just 46 seconds, the fastest goal in the Premiership this season.

• Dundee United have scored in their last seven games in the Premiership, their longest run of games with a goal in the competition since a run of 10 games from 9 February 2022 to 30 April 2022.

• Motherwell have scored in their last three games in the Premiership, their longest run of games with a goal in the competition since a run of three games from 30 October 2024 to 23 November 2024.

Motherwell leapt to fourth in the Scottish Premiership after edging out Dundee United in pulsating seven-goal thriller.

Louis Moult's 88th-minute header looked to have set up a tense finale, but Motherwell held on to leapfrog their visitors who drop to fifth.

What did you make of that Motherwell fans? Has Stuart Kettlewell silenced his critics?

And how important is it that players are returning from injury? Has Apostolos Stamatelopoulos impressed you?

Let us know your thoughts here, external.

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Assistant manager Stephen Frail told BBC Scotland: "We'll pick through the bones over the next couple of days. First and foremost we're just glad to get the three points.

"It's a tough league and to get two wins back-to-back after three defeats in a row is really pleasing. There's tonnes for us to be pleased about, but there's tonnes for us to be trying to fix for the next game.

"We'll be looking at how we press from the front, so we'll be looking at the strikers to the back three and the goalkeeper - who made a brilliant save at the end to win us three points.

"We're happy where we are, 11 points better off than where we were at this point last season.

"The character [pleased me most]. We had to pick ourselves up, hang on and defend and stay together. Some of the creativity and the strikers getting the goals is pleasing too.

"I've heard some of that 'long ball' stuff and that we don't play to the talents of Lennon Miller. He's been outstanding and he isn't outstanding if we play long-ball. We're not a long ball team and we try and play the right way."

Andrew Petrie
BBC Sport Scotland

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Kettlewell critics have, recently, become a little louder in their opinions on the Motherwell manager but last weekend's last-gasp win over St Mirren quietened them down.

The performance against United should do the same. Instead of the long, direct play that had plagued performances over November, they were far more keen to knock the ball about and get the best out of Paton and Lennon Miller.

There also seemed to be a connection between player of the match Stamatelopoulos and Maswanhise, as well as an imposing figure on the right in Kaleta.

However, the defensive frailties were still there. A silly penalty and a goalkeeping error threatened to let United back in.

The emergence of Stamatelopoulos as the main striker will be a relief for Kettlewell. The manager needed to fill the Theo Bair-shaped hole up top and it looks like the Australian striker is starting to find his feet.

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Apostolos Stamatelopoulos. The Australian striker is starting to look far more settled in his new homeland. Scoring two and setting up another isn't a bad days work, and he had a couple more chances as well.

The previous number nine was always going to be hard to replace but there's growing hope that 'Stama' could step up to the job.

A word too for Marvin 'Marvellous' Kaleta. Brilliant down the right, up and down all afternoon with a few good deliveries to boot.

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On-loan Dundee United striker Tony Watt drops out of the Motherwell squad but Stephen O'Donnell is available to start after a hamstring injury.

Tom Sparrow (ankle), Ross Callachan (hamstring), Paul McGinn (thigh), Callum Slattery (knee), Jack Vale (calf) and Zach Robinson (Achilles) remain out.

Dundee United wide player Will Ferry is suspended but Kristijan Trapanovski has returned to training and could be involved. Ross Docherty (calf) and Craig Sibbald (groin) are still absent.

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Motherwell winger Sam Nicholson believes strong off-field relationships have helped the club navigate an injury-hit season.

Stuart Kettlewell's side are fifth in the Premiership and could go fourth with a win over Dundee United on Saturday.

They have reached that position despite being without several first-team players for large chunks of the season, including Nicholson - who only returned from a patellar tendon injury last weekend in the win over St Mirren.

Nicholson says he formed a tight bond with the other players who were in the treatment room with him, and they helped each other through their rehab, providing support and regularly checking in.

"I feel like every player says this when they're at a club, but it's one of the best dressing rooms I've been in, without a shadow of a doubt," the former Hearts man said. "It's hilarious. We've just got such a good group of lads.

"When you're injured and you spend more time with the injured boys, everyone's out training, you're in doing rehab and stuff, so you do get a closeness and a bond.

"But with or without that, I think the team's very, very close. It's an everyday thing with the boys that we actually enjoy coming in to play football and to have each other's company.

"It's been good mentally for all of us. When I say a good group of people, there's people that, when you're going home, you're injured, you're in your own time, they're still texting you going, 'how are you feeling mate?'

"You don't get that at a lot of clubs, I don't feel. I don't anyway. Maybe they haven't liked me at other clubs, I'm not sure!

"I think if you have a bond like that, it's important. It can go down to something as little as someone makes a mistake, that's your mate, you've got to go and help them out, which we all do, we all make mistakes.

"So I think the closeness of the team has definitely helped us already. We just need to keep building on it."

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Stephen Frail insists there will be "no real change" to Motherwell's approach despite manager Stuart Kettlewell being confined to the stands when Dundee United visit Fir Park on Saturday.

Kettlewell serves an automatic touchline ban because of an accumulation of yellow cards, having been booked three times in the Steelmen's previous four matches.

"Nothing changes in terms of the way we build up between now and Saturday," said assistant boss Frail.

"Obviously, the manager knows the restraints in terms of being in the dressing room before the game. We know that, but nothing will change.

"The same message will be there, but he'll obviously be very visible up in the stand and relaying messages that he needs to see on the pitch. So there'll be no real change."

Frail joked about Kettlewell communicating his ideas during the match.

"He'll probably just lean over and shout, I would imagine," he added.

"But no, he'll be in communication. As I say, our message, the manager's message, will be the message that I'll be able to carry on.

"But there will be an access to him, whether it's through comms or just coming down at half-time. But there shouldn't be any real issue."

Andy Campbell
BBC Sport Scotland

Two points separate Motherwell in fifth and Dundee United one place above.

Hence, a home victory will change the shape of the table while United will be keen to maintain the status quo with a win or draw.

The Tangerines are unbeaten in five and Well warmed up for this one with a precious away victory over St Mirren in Paisley last Saturday.

It was the Steelmen that came out on top the last time the sides met in the league and Motherwell also won this season's League Cup encounter, again 2-1.

Dundee United cannot go above League Cup holders and finalists Rangers with victory but can at least get closer to them and second-placed Aberdeen, who are not in action this weekend.

Read all the weekend Premiership picks

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Callum Slattery is "looking really good" on his return to training after a long-term knee injury but won't be rushed into action, says Motherwell assistant Stephen Frail.

The midfielder has been out since suffering cruciate ligament damage in January.

Speaking before Motherwell host Dundee United this weekend, Frail said: "It's about managing it, it's been a long-term injury and he's come back and he's looking really good.

"He'll still be a wee bit away from being in our thoughts to be involved in any games at the minute. But such is the schedule, we can't even really organise a bounce game or a friendly.

"We'll probably have to do that just maybe among ourselves when the games settle down a little bit.

"He's still a little bit short for what we need to join in on match day, but he's looking sharp.

"Watching him training the other day, there's no issues psychologically dealing with the injury.

"I've watched him twist and turn and check and stuff and he's looking good. So it's going to give everybody a real lift."