Motherwell

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Motherwell manager Stuart Kettlewell says his striker hunt "is evolving all the time" as he prepares to face St Johnstone with Theo Bair his only experienced option.

The departures of Mika Biereth, Conor Wilkinson and Oli Shaw plus a hamstring tear for Jon Obika - who faces “at least another few weeks” out - have left Motherwell short up front.

Mark Ferrie will return to the squad following the end of his loan spell with Stenhousemuir, although the 18-year-old rarely started for the League Two leaders.

James Scott was linked with a return to Fir Park but he joined former Well boss Stephen Robinson at St Mirren instead.

On his hunt for a striker, Kettlewell said: “It’s been the priority but as we all know January is a tough window.

“We have spoken to a lot of players and clubs. Some situations looked really positive, sometimes you fall flat on your face.

“That is part and parcel of a transfer window. You get a bit annoyed at a number of people along the way but you always have that plan B, C and D.

“You need to have players that want to come to your club – the guys that jump through hoops to get here are always the best players for you.”

Obika has had three hamstring injuries and only started seven league games since first joining the club 12 months ago, so Kettlewell is naturally keen to bring in more than one striker.

But he added: “I want to get one in first then see what that leaves us in terms of finances. Everything depends on money and availability.

“We are having to shift the goalposts depending on being turned down by a player or whether we can afford one, or if we can afford him does that mean it’s only one rather than two?

“Because we have had so many injuries, we sometimes have to think about having that cover and ensuring it’s maybe more than one.”

Motherwell return to league action with a trip to McDiarmid Park on Saturday, looking to build on their Scottish Cup win against Alloa last time out.

Who would you start if you were in Stuart Kettlewell's shoes? Pick your 'Well XI here.

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Motherwell have announced that Oli Shaw's loan spell at the club has ended, with the striker returning to parent club Barnsley.

Shaw made 16 league appearances for Motherwell, but did not score during his time at Fir Park.

The 25-year-old missed Motherwell's Scottish Cup win over Alloa through injury, and will continue his recovery in South Yorkshire.

Jane Lewis, BBC Sport Scotland

Despite a slight scare, Motherwell saw off Alloa in the Scottish Cup on Saturday. A potentially tricky tie given recent results, but job done for Stuart Kettlewell and his players, who will be hoping it’s onwards and upwards from here. It has to be really, with the Fir Park club only sitting two points off the relegation play-off spot.

The club have added four new faces during this transfer window, and the short-term signings will need to hit the ground running. Two of them have already featured and look to be solid additions.

Adam Montgomery, on loan from Celtic, started against Alloa, while Andy Halliday, on loan from Hearts, came on as substitute in the second half. On early evidence both look like they could make a difference to this Motherwell side in the second half of the season. Defender Callan Elliot and midfielder Sam Nicolson have also arrived at the club.

A new striker is yet to materialise though, and after the loss of Mika Biereth that is a position Kettlewell needs to address.

Statistically Biereth will be a huge miss. You only have to look at their last two matches against St Johnstone, who they face next, as proof of that.

The sides have drawn their two meetings this season, with Motherwell behind in both fixtures, but the Danish frontman popped up with vital goals to salvage two vital points.

Motherwell would probably take a another draw on Saturday, but all three would be precious given the lay of the land. As things stand there’s only a point between the sides in the Premiership, and St Johnstone have a game in hand.

Craig Levein's side suffered a sore defeat in the Scottish Cup. Kettlewell will be hoping his side can inflict further misery upon the Saints this Saturday.

Stuart Kettlewell has backed Sam Nicholson to add "creativity and quality" to Motherwell after the midfielder signed for the rest of the season following his exit from Colorado Rapids.

Nicholson, 29, came through the youth ranks at Hearts and played over 100 games for the Tynecastle side before moving to the MLS with Minnesota United in 2017.

He has since had two spells at Colorado, either side of two years with Bristol Rovers, and has racked up more than 300 career apperances.

“It’s another good signing for the club,” manager Kettlewell said.

“Sam has a lot to offer the team. He has good experience here in Scotland but also on his travels."

Nicholson added: “I’m delighted to be here. This is a good team and a good club, and I’m looking forward to contributing.”

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Jenna Thomson, Motherwell fan

Is it a bit shameful to celebrate a 3-1 victory against a League 1 side that at one point were level to us and at times looked as though they could’ve gone ahead? Yes.

Will I continue to do it regardless? Absolutely.

With the way things have been for Motherwell recently, we have to take pleasure in the small things, and that result on Saturday is a weight off the shoulders.

Not only is it a further example to the team that when they knuckle down they can get the job done, but also shows we could survive the rest of the season without Mika Beireth, who has sadly returned south.

His departure is without a doubt a dangerous blow to Motherwell. However, with the loan signings we’ve made so far, I have faith that we’ll do okay.

Now it is confirmed we will be facing Greenock Morton at Cappielow in a few weeks' time, the quarter-final of the cup is within our grasp and there is no reason as to why we shouldn’t be able to win the game.

I am happy to excuse a potential play-off if we get to the semis of the Scottish Cup. No pressure.

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The SPFL say the draft report of an independent review of the league's operations shows it complies "with significant elements of the UK Code of Corporate Governance".

The review was commissioned in July after the SPFL's chairman Murdoch MacLennan apologised to Rangers as a dispute over sponsorship was concluded.

The SPFL agreed a deal with car firm cinch in 2021 but Rangers did not promote the deal and took the matter to court, citing a prior agreement with rival car retailer Park's of Hamilton.

"I am reassured but not complacent," said MacLennan of the review.

"We will now take time to consider Henderson Loggie's detailed recommendations before bringing suggested changes back to the 42 SPFL member clubs for their consideration.

“Whilst a number of the recommendations from the draft report are already being addressed, the board and the wider organisation will, of course, take all necessary steps to improve further on the excellent work which has been undertaken to date."

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New Zealand international defender Callan Elliot has joined Motherwell on a deal until the end of the season.

The Dumfries-born full-back returns to Scotland having most recently played with Wellington Phoenix.

Capped three times by his adopted nation after moving there aged seven, Elliot becomes the Fir Park side's third signing of the window.

Manager Stuart Kettlewell said: “Callan has good quality and has impressed out in the A-League."

“I’m trying build a squad here and we have been looking to add quality and depth in this area of the park. Callan ticks both of those boxes so it’s great to get him in the squad.

“He’s an international player and someone I think can add a lot to the team.”

Motherwell will face Morton away in the last 16 of the Scottish Cup.

The tie will take place the weekend of 10 February.

We asked for your thoughts after Motherwell beat Alloa 3-1 to reach the last 16 of the Scottish Cup.

Here's a taste of what you had to say:

Anon: Adam Montgomery had a very solid debut and looks to be a good prospect linked well with Georgie Gent. This could be an exciting pairing going forward. Despite three goals today we still don't look all that dangerous in the final third.

Anon: Good win. Montgomery will be a great signing, and Spittal showing his class again.

Charlton Athletic's Scott Fraser is close to joining Heart of Midlothian on loan after Motherwell had expressed interest in the playmaker. (Record), external

Read Sunday's Scottish Gossip

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Motherwell manager Stuart Kettlewell tells BBC Sport Scotland: "We always look round the country, look at the upsets, and we sure as heck didn't want to be one of those clubs.

"We scored three really good goals, but there are certainly aspects that need to be sharpened up. There's stages in the game where there was nervous energy in the stadium. That's down to ourselves, although there were a lot of good performances from Alloa.

"There's often a thought process that we'll blow Alloa out the water but there's a lot more respect than that. There were aspects I wasn't happy with at all, we needed to sharpen up defensively with our organisation behind the ball, our use of the ball could be better, we can create more chances.

"We know Blair has that quality. He'll be kicking himself, he'll be disappointed not to get the hat-trick. He's pitched in all season, been so consistent for us."

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Comfortable in the end... were you worried at all, Well fans?

What did you make of Adam Montgomery on debut? And did you see any difference to the side that went into the winter break?

Let us know your thoughts here.

On-loan Celtic full-back Adam Montgomery is thrown straight into the Motherwell line-up for his debut, while yesterday's signing from Hearts, Andy Halliday, is named on the bench.

Lennon Miller returns from injury to make the bench, but there's no room for Oli Shaw on the bench.

There are four former Motherwell players in the Alloa line-up - PJ Morrison, Steven Hetherington, Morgyn Neill and Conor Sammon.

Will any of them come back to haunt their former employer?

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Arsenal forward Mika Biereth is expected to join Sturm Graz on loan after being recalled from his loan spell at Motherwell. (Sun), external

Read Saturday's Scottish Gossip

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Mika Biereth has signed on loan for Sturm Graz until the end of the season, having been recalled from his stint at Motherwell earlier this month by parent club Arsenal.

"The last few days have been very exciting, everything happened very quickly, but that's just how it is in football," the 20-year-old striker said.

"SK Sturm is a big club in Austria that has high goals - just like I am very ambitious and strive for the highest both in my personal development and with the team."