Motherwell

BBC Scotland chief sportswriter Tom English has been answering your questions.

Gilbert asked: How long do you think we will keep Lennon Miller? I would hate to see him go to an Old Firm team and sit on the bench the same as David Turnbull.

Tom answered: I don't think you'll have him next season, Gilbert. Stephen McGinn was on our radio programme a few weeks back and said his brother, Paul, rates Miller as the best player of that age he'd ever played with. And Paul had obviously played with John. So that was an amazing tribute to Miller.

He's only a kid, obviously, but his scope is fantastic. Big and strong, vision, pass execution, engine, eye for a goal. He’s the real deal.

When he goes, I hope it’s to Italy, where Scottish players have a burgeoning reputation. I think he'd be brilliant in that league. If he can get a good club. He’s very young, yes. Maybe a move of that magnitude is too early for him, but he seems like a mature boy.

I also think he'd walk into the Rangers first team right now, but the thought of him doing a Lewis Ferguson is a thrilling one. Ferguson and Miller in the middle of the park for Bologna? I’d be surprised if they weren't fully aware of him in Italy - and beyond.

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Goalkeeper Aston Oxborough has signed a new contract at Motherwell after becoming "a huge part of the success" the club have had this season.

Despite signing in the summer of 2022, the 26-year-old has only forced himself into the first team following the summer exit of Liam Kelly.

The former Norwich City keeper has been an integral part of the team's fine start as they sit fourth in the Premiership with a League Cup semi-final against Rangers on the way.

Oxborough was due to be out of contract at the end of the current season, but his new deal extends to summer 2027, with the club holding an option of a further year.

"There's been no doubt in my mind that I wanted Aston to stay at Fir Park beyond this season," manager Stuart Kettlewell said.

"His qualities have shone through in his performances and I think everyone knows how patient he has had to be for his opportunity.

"He is a huge part of the success we've had so far."

Oxborough added: "Signing this deal doesn't mean I'll be taking my foot off the gas. We have huge games coming up and long term, I want to be the number one keeper."

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.

Who has been the top performer so far? Is the manager living up to expectations?

Put your questions to Tom here, external.

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Kofi Balmer could make his Northern Ireland debut after being called up to Michael O'Neill's squad for the Nations League games against Belarus and Bulgaria.

The 24-year-old Motherwell defender has been in squads before but is yet to make his first senior appearance for his country.

Balmer, who has played three games for Motherwell since his summer move from Crystal Palace, said: "It's an honour to be called up,.

"I have just tried to be professional and take my chance when it came. It's a great feeling."

O'Neill's side are on three points after two games in Nations League C.

Jenna Thomson
Fan writer

Motherwell's run of form is immense, with the victory at Hibs making it six wins out of seven.

I know the inevitable eight-game spell without a win will happen sometime in winter, as it does every year, but as it stands now I genuinely think we have the ability to push for European football.

Hibs have had a topsy-turvy start to their season and Hearts have been diabolical. The only other usual contenders I can see causing us problems are, of course, Aberdeen and maybe St Mirren.

This is the most exciting the league has felt in a long while with Aberdeen outperforming Rangers, Motherwell in a semi-final, and the teams sitting from sixth to ninth changing frequently. For once there might not be an obvious choice for who may finish second, never mind the rest of the spots in the league.

Scottish football has been so enjoyable to watch this season, both from a Motherwell perspective and as a fan of the game in general.

An early-season standout at Fir Park is goalkeeper Aston Oxborough - give that man a lengthy contract.

His deal runs out next summer and I can only hope the club are doing everything it can to keep him longer.

Not only is he confident between the sticks, he also inspires confidence in our defence which was sorely lacking last season. If I were Steve Clarke, I would be checking ancestory.com to see if he has any Scottish grandparents.

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Motherwell's Lennon Miller has been named Scottish Premiership player of the month in recognition of his sparkling September form.

The 18-year-old midfielder netted a double in the 2-1 win over St Mirren as he continues to impress amid Motherwell's strong start to the season.

Miller, who also scored the injury-time penalty winner against Dundee United to send the Steelmen into the League Cup semis, said: "I'm extremely pleased to pick up this award.

"Not many Motherwell players win it - Blair Spittal last season was only the third in five years to do so.

"Personally, it's great but more importantly, the team have been playing well collectively. There is a real sense of togetherness and cohesion between us all."

Sportscene pundits Michael Stewart and Shelley Kerr assess Motherwell's set-piece play in their 2-1 win against Hibs.

Jonathan Sutherland
Sportscene presenter

Motherwell have three players in my Team of the Week after their impressive win at Easter Road.

Aston Oxborough takes the gloves after a Player of the Match display - he has been outstanding since his ascension to Motherwell number one.

Love them or loathe them, there's no denying the effectiveness of the occasional long throw. Kofi Balmer's howitzer wreaked havoc in the Hibs box, allowing Andy Halliday to fire home and seal a huge three points for the Steelmen.

It's not often Motherwell shell out a reported six-figure sum, so they must have real conviction about Apostolos Stamatelopoulos. Given Stuart Kettlewell's ability to get the best out of Kevin Van Veen and Theo Bair you'd back his judgment.

The Australian got his first Motherwell goal after an injury interrupted arrival since signing from Newcastle Jets, finishing off an assist from Lennon Miller. How dangerous a combination could that duo be as the season develops?

Watch highlights as Motherwell win 2-1 against Hibs in the Scottish Premiership.

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Motherwell "aren't getting carried away," despite continuing their superb start to the season with victory at Easter Road, says Stuart Kettlewell.

Andy Halliday scored an 80th-minute winner after Apostolos Stamatelopoulos’ first goal since joining the Lanarkshire club in the summer was quickly cancelled out by Hibs winger Junior Hoilett.

Motherwell head into the international break fourth in the Scottish Premiership, but the manager insists they "won't be getting comfortable".

"It is a good run of form we're on but we're certainly not patting each other on the back and over-celebrating and getting carried away," said Kettlewell.

"We wanted to start the league campaign really well, which I think we've done to this point, and we wanted to go a run in the cup which we've done.

"But I need to stress it again that next week we'll go back to work and we'll make sure that we're trying to prepare for what comes next because if you sit there feeling really comfortable with yourself and really happy about yourself and patting each other on the back, then I tend to think that bad things start to come round the corner.

"So we’ll keep our motivation and we'll keep our desire to try and pick up three points wherever we are, home or away and then we’ve got a semi-final to look forward to, but there's plenty of football to be played before we get to that."

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

Here's what some of you said:

Taylor: Frustrating first half for any Well fan watching, no clear chances taken and only have Aston Oxborough and Lennon Miller to thank for keeping us in the game, which is becoming a theme this season. Brilliant second half and Well fought back after the Stephen O'Donnell error. The title charge is on.

Stephen: It was natural for any Well fan to worry about the void left when Liam Kelly, our number one and captain, left the club for a spot on the Rangers bench. But Oxborough has stepped up and proven his worth. The guy is a colossus in goal, also magnificent to see Apostolos Stamatelopoulos get on the scoresheet, he looks like a real find. In Stuart Kettlewell we trust!

James: Another victory and the second-half performance deserved it. Substitutions made a big difference, we always looked like regaining the lead. Great team effort and Miller just oozes class, the young man has the potential to be a superstar.

AJ: The team has been doing very well, there has definitely been times I've been sceptical of Kettlewell but he's proved to be a solid manager and I back him and the squad 100%.

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• Hibernian have conceded five goals in the last 15 minutes of the second half, no team has conceded more in the Scottish Premiership this season.

• The Easter Road side have failed to win any of their last 21 matches when conceding first in the league, since a victory over Celtic on 24 May 2023.

• Nectarios Triantis has received a red card - Hibernian's first sending off in the Premiership this season, and their first since 25th November 2023 against Dundee.

• Motherwell have scored four goals in the last 15 minutes of the second half, no team has more in the Scottish Premiership this season.

• Motherwell have scored in each of their last six league games, scoring 11 goals in that run.

• Stuart Kettlewell's side have avoided defeat in their last five matches when scoring first in the Premiership, since a 1-3 loss to Celtic on 25 February 2024.

Were you at Easter Road or following the match elsewhere?

Either way, we want your views on the game - have your say here, external.

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Motherwell manager Stuart Kettlewell: "We didn't show what we can be as a team in the first half, I thought we addressed that right at the start of the second half.

"We then started to grow in confidence and I need to commend my goalkeeper again.

"We rallied round Stephen O'Donnell after his error and we get what is a brilliant victory for us.

"The motivator always has to be consistency now."

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On the evidence of this season, Aston Oxborough looks a serious upgrade on Liam Kelly in the Motherwell goal.

With each passing week, it is more of a head-scratcher that Stuart Kettlewell kept the keeper on the bench throughout last season while Kelly was underperforming.

The 26-year-old Englishman made a string of superb stops with the game was goalless at Easter Road and received deserved from his manager post-match.

Nick McPheat
BBC Sport Scotland

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With a League Cup semi-final to come next month in addition to their fine start in the Premiership, Well fans could not have dreamt of a better introduction to the season.

Stuart Kettlewell's men continue to show a knack of grabbing late goals, which stretches back to last term and highlights the strong mentality of his well-drilled side.

The Lanarkshire club are also benefitting from being patient with their manager, when many clubs might have pulled the trigger during a long winless run last year.

But with each passing week, it is more a head-scratcher that Kettlewell refused to bring Aston Oxborough into the side when Liam Kelly was underperforming last season.

The goalkeeper pulled off a string of stunning stops at Easter Road, including an incredible double save to deny Mykola Kuharevich, who then watched Lennon Miller clear his header off the line from the following corner.

He also had to be sharp to tip Kwon Hyeok-kyu's strike round the post and was quick off his line to thwart former Well winger Chris Cadden in the second half.

And at the other end, Apostolos Stamatelopoulos showed why the Fir Park club were happy to push the boat out and spend a reported six-figure sum to sign the Australia striker, whose fierce near-post opener sparked a wild final half hour.

Despite his side falling to a slim defeat at Rangers last weekend, Hibernian head coach David Gray names an unchanged team for the visit of Motherwell.

The Leith club were unfortunate not to come away with a draw and Gray would have been satisfied with the performance.

The away side, meanwhile, make two changes following their win over St Mirren as Apostolos Stamatelopoulos comes in to make his first start since returning from injury.

The Australia striker replaces Moses Ebiye, while the suspended Dan Casey also drops out.

Kofi Balmer, making his first Premiership start, comes into the back three.

On-loan Hibs winger Jair Tavares is ineligible to play against his parent club.

• Follow live coverage of Saturday's SPFL action

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Hibs captain Joe Newell is available to return after missing the last two games with a groin issue, while Nicky Cadden and Luke Amos are also back in contention.

Forwards Martin Boyle (hand) and Kieron Bowie (hamstring) remain sidelined along with Jake Doyle-Hayes, who is still working on his fitness after more than a year out.

Motherwell defender Dan Casey is suspended while Johnny Koutroumbis and Shane Blaney are edging closer to comebacks.

Callum Slattery, Sam Nicholson (both knee), Harry Paton (ankle), Ross Callachan (hamstring) and Jack Vale (calf) are long-term absentees.

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Kofi Balmer hopes his patience has paid off as he looks to become a Motherwell regular after belatedly making his Premiership debut last weekend.

The Northern Ireland centre-back, a summer signing from Crystal Palace, came off the bench to help the Steelmen to a 2-1 win over St Mirren following Dan Casey's red card.

With Casey suspended for Saturday's Premiership trip to face Hibs, Balmer is in line for his first start in the league.

The 24-year-old scored in Motherwell's opening game of the season, a League Cup win against Edinburgh City, before waiting 11 weeks for his next opportunity to play.

"You always have to be ready because you never know when you're going to get your opportunity," said Balmer.

"For me, it was not to lose my head, not to sort of throw the toys out of the pram, I just had to be patient.

"I was always ready to come on and take the opportunity. The manager said that I will get my chance and that's good for me because it keeps me in the right frame of mind to always be ready when the opportunity comes.

"Saturday probably came quicker than I expected but at the same time I'd done all my preparations and I was ready to come on and do the job that I had to do.

"It was good, it was long awaited, I had to be patient for it and thankfully it happened.

"Now it's just up to me to perform and do well in training to get a certain spot and hopefully keep it.

"When you get the shirt you're always fighting for a position and the gaffer says if you get the shirt you have to play well to keep it, that's all on me, I have to keep concentration and try to perform the best I can."

Kettlewell has high hopes for the former Larne and Ballymena player, who has had loan spells at Port Vale and AFC Wimbledon from Palace.

He said: "I had a conversation with Kofi a couple of weeks ago, it's always important to acknowledge how well people are performing around training sessions when they are not necessarily getting on the pitch. And he has been training really well.

"We knew we were bringing in a good player anyway, he came with a good pedigree and decent match experience for his age, and he has always been one we feel can grow and flourish here."

Former Hearts, Dundee United and St Johnstone defender Ryan McGowan says non-Old Firm fans will have enjoyed Celtic and Rangers being given a "taste of their own medicine" by "taking a pasting" in Europe against teams with a bigger budget.

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Hibernian are preparing to deal with the "mayhem" of Motherwell's long throw-ins when the sides meet on Saturday, says head coach David Gray. (Edinburgh Evening News - subscription), external

Read Friday's Scottish gossip

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Stuart Kettlewell insists Motherwell midfielder Lennon Miller is unfazed at being overlooked for a Scotland call-up.

The 18-year-old midfielder, who is set to make his 50th Motherwell appearance in Saturday's match with Hibs, has missed out on a place in Steve Clarke's injury-hit squad for the upcoming Nations League double-header against Croatia and Portugal.

Instead, Miller is part of the Scotland Under-21 squad for crucial games with against Belgium and Kazakhstan as Scot Gemmill's side chase a place at the Euro Championships.

"I'm absolutely not concerned about that whatsoever," said manager Kettlewell.

"All I'm concerned about is him playing well here and trying to create opportunities for himself.

"I always believe if you're getting that right at your football club then the good things will start to happen for you.

"I can confirm that Lennon's got absolutely no concern about that whatsoever. We're not sitting here feeling sorry if he's not in a national team which has done pretty well over a number of years."

Kettlewell paid tribute to Miller as the talented teenager prepares to reach an appearance milestone two years on from his debut.

"Lennon's made a difference," the Fir Park boss added.

"Every time you've put a big task in front of him, whether it be playing as a deep line midfielder, a more offensive midfield player in training sessions, or playing against top midfielders in this country, at no point has he come up short.

"I don't think you'll always get it right, I don't think you'll always perform to an eight, nine or 10 out of 10. What you have to do is show the traits that you're capable of and that's all I ever look for.

"That is definitively a message to everybody at our football club, that these window of opportunities come.

"Lennon gets a chance to play his 50th game this weekend for the first team because he's shown so much quality and so much composure in big moments.

"When you're tested physically, when you're tested mentally and when you're tested tactically and he's a guy that stood up to all of those challenges."

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Manager Stuart Kettlewell has been speaking to the media before Motherwell's trip to face Hibs on Saturday.

Here are the key lines from his press conference:

• The Fir Park boss is "not getting away" with the team's impressive start to the season, adding: "You always want to try and see if you can upset the odds and see if you can achieve something that you haven't for a long time."

• He is "trying to find a level of consistency" and hopes Motherwell can "strive for more of those good feelings" as they build towards next month's League Cup semi-final against Rangers.

• But he insists "our 100% focus is Hibs, it's going to be difficult, it's always a test" at Easter Road.

• As Lennon Miller approaches his 50th appearance, Kettlewell says he has "made a difference every time, he's shown so much quality and so much composure in big moments".

• Centre-back Kofi Balmer brings a "good pedigree and decent match experience" to the squad.

• Shane Blaney, John Koutroumbis and Apostolos Stamatelopoulos are "pushing closer" to a return, Dan Casey is out due to his one-match suspension and Jair Tavares can't play against his parent club.