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Henrik Ojamaa has been included in the Estonia squad to face Scotland at Pittodrie next month.

The eight-times capped striker, who was named Estonian U21 Player of 2012, has been included in Tarmo Rüütli’s 25-man squad for the friendly on February 6th.

The match will be the first for the new Scotland management team of Gordon Strachan and former Steelmen gaffer Mark McGhee.

FULL ESTONIA SQUAD

Goalkeepers
Pavel Londak – FK Bodø/Glimt
Marko Meerits – Vitesse
Sergei Pareiko – Wisła Kraków

Defenders
Alo Bärengrub – Nõmme JK Kalju
Enar Jääger – Aalesunds FK
Ragnar Klavan – FC Augsburg
Dmitri Kruglov – FK Rostov
Igor Morozov – Polonia Warszawa
Taavi Rähn – Tianjin Songjiang
Tihhon Šišov – Nõmme JK Kalju
Taijo Teniste – Sogndal Fotball

Midfielders
Aleksandr Dmitrijev – FK Gomel
Gert Kams – Tallinna FC Flora
Joel Lindpere – Chicago Fire
Siim Luts – Tallinna FC Flora
Sergei Mošnikov – Pogoń Szczecin
Sander Puri – Kuopion Palloseura
Ats Purje – Kuopion Palloseura
Konstantin Vassiljev – FK Amkar Perm
Martin Vunk – Panachaiki FC

Forwards
Jarmo Ahjupera – Györi ETO FC
Tarmo Kink – AS Varese 1910
Henrik Ojamaa – Motherwell F.C.
Andres Oper – Nea Salamis Famagusta FC
Vladimir Voskoboinikov – FC Dinamo Tbilisi

‘Well boss Stuart McCall reckons his squad are in good shape ahead of Sunday’s ESPN live clash with St Johnstone.

The Fir Parkers faced another early start to the campaign with gruelling matches in the heat of Athens and Valencia during the summer months.

It’s for that reason McCall welcomed the opportunity for his side to rest over the last few weeks and has lauded the standard in training in recent days.

[pullquote]We came back earlier than everyone else in the summer, with the Champions League and the Europa League and the majority of our side have played in every game so for most of them a little break has done them the world of good.[/pullquote]

He said: “It’s terrific to be back and the lads have trained really well.

“We played Celtic on the Wednesday and we gave them off until the following Friday so they’ve had a good chance to rest.

“We’ve obviously lose Jamie (Murphy) and Jonathan Page has gone to Accies but we’ve brought in Kallum Higginbotham and Fraser Kerr has extended his loan and that is the squad we’ve got.

“It’s a tight knit squad but one I’m happy with and looking forward to the remaining part of the season and the focus now is finishing as high as we can.

“We came back earlier than everyone else in the summer, with the Champions League and the Europa League and the majority of our side have played in every game so for most of them a little break has done them the world of good. We had an Under 20’s game midweek and we picked up a couple of knocks but everyone is back and raring to go for Sunday’s game.”

-WATCH THE FULL PRESS CONFERENCE ON MFC TV-

‘Well defender Simon Ramsden says he can’t wait to get back into action after almost three weeks without a game.

The former Bradford City defender has had a stop-start season after a number of niggling injuries.

Frustratingly for the 30-year old, just as he was putting together a consistent run of matches, the SPL shut down for a its winter break.

Feeling refreshed, the Bishop Auckland-born centre back is now looking forward to getting back in the mix when St Johnstone visit Fir Park on Sunday.

[pullquote]The Celtic game seems ages ago now; the lads have had some relaxation for a few days and it’s back to hard training.[/pullquote]

He told the broadcast press at Motherwell’s weekly news conference, “The Celtic game seems ages ago now; the lads have had some relaxation for a few days and it’s back to hard training.

“It’s a game we’re definitely looking forward to. I’ve never had a winter break in my career and it’s been good and bad from my point of view.

“I’ve had four or five games in a row and was just getting back into the swing of things so for me I’d maybe liked to have continued playing but for the lads in general it’s came at a good time. They can get their legs back and be raring to go again.

“St Johnstone is going to be a tough game. I’ve played in both games against them this season. The game at home was a very tight affair that could have gone either way but away from home our start provided us with the momentum to go on and win the game.

“They are a big threat going forward, which I can vouch for having went up against their frontmen but obviously we think we can test them ourselves.”

-WATCH THE PRESS CONFERENCE IN FULL ON MFC TV-

Antigua and Barbuda International Zaine Francis-Angol has today signed a new two-and-a-half year contract with the club.

The 19-year old broke into the first-team at the start of the campaign, making his full debut in the UEFA Champions League against Panathinaikos in Athens.

At the end of August Francis-Angol received a call up to the Benna Boys World Cup Qualifying matches against Guatemala.

Starting both games, Zaine earned praise from Antigua coach Tom Curtis and looks set to have a long international career ahead of him – having won four caps already.

[pullquote]I love it here. It’s a lot slower paced than in London and I think I prefer that. Everybody wants to play; that includes me and hopefully I can be a regular.[/pullquote]

The Tottenham Hotspur academy graduate has subsequently impressed when filling in for the established Stevie Hammell where his pace and trickery going forward can be powerful weapon for Stuart McCall’s side towards the latter part of a match.

He has turned out seventeen times in Claret and Amber, six as a starter and eleven from the substitutes bench.

Speaking exclusively to MFC TV, the 19-year old said: “I’m delighted and can’t wait to carry on with the rest of the season.

“The financial side of Scottish Football  isn’t the same as down south so obviously clubs have to give their youth an opportunity and hopefully I can be a part of that. I love it here. It’s a lot slower paced than in London and I think I prefer that. Everybody wants to play; that includes me and hopefully I can be a regular.

“Motherwell is a great foundation and hopefully I can play on from here and see where I end up.”

-WATCH THE INTERVIEW EXCLUSIVELY ON MFC TV-

In November 2012, Motherwell FC and Cash Converters produced special ‘Tash Converters’ shirts that were worn by the players to help promote the Movember appeal.

These shirts are now available for sale in an effort to raise much needed funds for this great cause.

To buy your bespoke Tash Converters shirt CLICK HERE.

Cash Converters is working hard to support the Movember appeal, raising funds for prostate and testicular cancer research. Since 1997, 25,000 supporters have contributed nearly £12 million through the appeal towards our mission to make the discoveries that defeat cancer.

All monies raised after costs will be donated to the Movember appeal to help raise more funds.  Both Cash Converters and Motherwell FC are avid supporters of local and national charities and will continue to participate in new and innovative ideas to help raise cash for good causes.

Another bumper edition of the 68-page Steelmen Matchday Magazine returns against St Johnstone this weekend.

‘Well boss Stuart McCall and Captain Keith Lasley both return with the regular columns. The gaffer talks about the challenges posed by Saints, the winter break and building on recent decent home form.

The skipper looks forward to getting back into action, salutes recent departure Jamie Murphy and gives an insight into some recent off-field superstardom.

The feature interview is with fan-favourite Bob McHugh. The striker, who netted a quadruple for the U20s during the week, talks about filling the void left by Jamie Murphy, fan chants and finishing high in the SPL table.

But that’s not where the features stop!

There is a 13-page section dedicated to our visitors, St Johnstone.

Kris Jack goes through four players to watch from opponents, as we as a player-by-player breakdown of their squad, including three former Steelmen.

Nigel Hasselbaink is the man in the spotlight in our opposition Q&A and Kev Heller gives us a fans-eyed view of Saints’ season so far.

We also have a scout report from the Perth clubs’ last match as they beat Dundee 1-0 thanks to a Liam Craig goal.

The features and big names keep coming…

In our Interview Alumni section, we caught up with former Steelman striker and Saints manager Owen Coyle. The former Burnley and Bolton boss looks back fondly at his time at Fir Park and his almost telepathic partnership with the Cobra – Tommy Coyne. He also talks candidly about his disappointment at the way his time at Motherwell came to an end.

Press & Media Manager Alan Burrows adds his thoughts in ‘The Last Word’ near the back of the publication and examines the on-going debate of Scottish Football reconstruction.

Antiguan International Zaine Francis-Angol tells us his ‘First and Last’ and Graham Barnstaple’s Cult Heroes this week focuses on one of Motherwell’s greatest ever players – John Gahagan.

But wait, there’s more!

We take a look back at the 4-1 win over Aberdeen, the 2-2 draw with Kilmarnock and the narrow 1-0 defeat at Celtic Park. There are 10 tough questions in our Quiz, the latest news section as well as an in-depth statistical look at referee Willie Collum.

We have the latest from The Ticket Office, the Commercial Department, and update from the ‘Well Society.

The programme is available for £3 and is will be on sale from the Club Shop as well as the usual sellers located in and around the ground pre-match.

You can also order back editions or take a season-long subscription to the magazine by visiting the website of our publishers – Curtis-Sports –http://www.curtis-sport.com/

Willie Collum will take charge of Sunday’s Clydesdale Bank Premier League meeting with St Johnstone at Fir Park.

Regarded as one of Scotland’s best officials, it will be Willie’s fourth Motherwell game of the current campaign.

He took charge of both William Hill Scottish Cup clashes with Aberdeen, in the first meeting at Pittodrie, Niall McGinn headed home a late equaliser to cancel out Jamie Murphy’s opener 10 minutes from time and there was disappointment for the Steelmen in the replay as goals from Rory Fallon and Joe Shaughnessy helped the Dons progress to the next round.

Motherwell were handed a lifeline in injury-time when Michael Higdon netted from the penalty spot, however Craig Brown’s side held firm in the final minutes.

Collum’s other match this season was the 1-0 defeat at Tynecastle in October when Danny Grainger’s long-range effort separated the sides.

He’ll be a familiar face to most ‘Well fans having officiated at the top level for many years now, including two Motherwell matches last term.

He took charge of the 0-0 draw with Rangers at Ibrox in early May, Rangers’ last SPL fixture at their own ground. The other match was Motherwell’s Scottish Communities League Cup defeat at home to Hibs; the Easter Road men progressing through on penalties.

Incredibly, Motherwell have never won a league game with Collum in charge. The only victories recorded whilst the Bellshill based whistler has been the man in the middle was the then CIS Cup win against Raith Rovers at the start of the 2007/08 season, a Scottish Cup success at Inverurie the following season and a 1-0 success over Dundee United in the League Cup – Alan Gow’s goal earning the Fir Park side a place in the last four.

His overall record in charge of the Steelmen reads three wins, ten defeats and five draws from eighteen matches. In those games, Motherwell have scored 24 and conceded 33. 34 players have gone into the book, 15 wearing Claret and Amber, while three players have been dismissed – Ian Murray of Hibs at Easter Road a few years back, Jerard Aafjes at Falkirk four seasons ago and Paul Dixon at the end of 2009/10.

Martin Cryans and Willie Conquer will run the lines with Greg Aitken on fourth official duties.

Extended highlights from Fir Park as a Bob McHugh quadruple and a super Stevie Hetherington bullet gives Motherwell U20s a 5-1 win over St Johnstone.

-WATCH EXTENDED HIGHLIGHTS ONLY ON MFC TV-