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Defender Adam Cummins has joined Scottish Championship title contenders Dundee on loan until the end of the season.

The former Everton Academy graduate, who won the clubs’ Young Player of the Year last season, has seen his first team opportunities restricted against an experienced back four this term.

Cummins, who has started games in both the UEFA Champions League and Europa League, moves to the City of Discovery and right into a title race, with the Dee battling it out with Hamilton Accies for top spot.

And the 20-year old hopes it will prove a launchpad for next season, as he looks towards nailing down a regular starting berth at Fir Park, adding to his 33 appearances for the first-team.

[pullquote]My aim is to go there, play well and hopefully help them win the league. That will set me up nicely for coming back in the summer and making a pitch for a regular first-team spot at Motherwell.[/pullquote]

Cummins told motherwellfc.co.uk, “I’ve had to be patient waiting for a chance as the back four of Hutchinson, McManus, Ramsden and Hammell have all performed so well this season.

“I also had one or two niggling injuries at the start of the season, which didn’t help.

“Going to Dundee will give me a good opportunity to get games and get sharp again. They are a really good club, fighting for promotion back to the Premiership.

“My aim is to go there, play well and hopefully help them win the league.

“That will set me up nicely for coming back in the summer and making a pitch for a regular first-team spot at Motherwell.”

Adam signed his deal this afternoon and, subject to the relevant registration formalities, will join in time for training tomorrow and the weekend’s match with Livingston and Dens Park.

Willie Collum will take charge of Saturday’s Scottish Premiership meeting with Hearts at Tynecastle.

Regarded as one of Scotland’s best officials, it will be Willie’s second Motherwell match of the 2013/14 campaign. His only other was the recent 3-0 win over St Mirren at Fir Park when Lionel Ainsworth and a Henri Anier double separated the sides.

Willie is no stranger to ‘Well fans having been a top-flight whistler for a number of years, taking charge of six Motherwell matches last term too.

The first was the 1-0 defeat at Tynecastle in October 2012 when Danny Grainger’s long-range effort separated the sides.

He also took charge of both William Hill Scottish Cup clashes with Aberdeen last December.

In the first meeting at Pittodrie, Niall McGinn headed home a late equaliser to cancel out Jamie Murphy’s opener 10 minutes from time.

There would be 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.

He was also the man in the middle for the narrow 3-2 win over St Johnstone in January; Michael Higdon’s hat-trick sealing a terrific three points and also the disappointing 3-0 defeat at Ross County shortly after.

He also handled the James McFadden-inspired 4-1 victory over Hibs in March and, finally, the 4-3 defeat to Inverness Caley in the Highlands in May.

His overall record in charge of the Steelmen reads six wins, twelve defeats and five draws from twenty-three matches (in all competitions).

In those games, Motherwell have scored 34 and conceded 43.

46 players have gone into the book, 20 wearing Claret and Amber, while four players have been dismissed – Ian Murray of Hibs at Easter Road five years back, Jerard Aafjes at Falkirk four seasons ago, Paul Dixon at the end of 2009/10 and, most recently, Henrik Ojamaa in that game at Caley last season.

Martin Cryans and Brian McGarry will run the lines with Craig Charleston on fourth official duties. The referee observer is George Smith and the SPFL Delegate is Ricky Gray.

Every month this season, Cash Converters will be giving you the opportunity to present your Motherwell Player of the Month with his trophy.

All you need to do is vote for the ‘Well player you think has been the stand-out performer for December and you could be chosen at random to congratulate our star man in person.

To cast your vote, simply visit our Cash Converters SPL Facebook page by CLICKING HERE.

The Cash Converters SPL Facebook page will also give you the opportunity to enter the draw to take part in the next Convert for Cash race against Aberdeen on Saturday 25th January 2014, and the chance to win a host of other prizes.

Competition closes at midday on Friday 10th January 2014.

Tickets for our trips to both Tynecastle and Celtic Park are now on sale from the Fir Park Ticket Office.

HEARTS:

• Concessions are listed as Over 65s and Full Time Students with a valid matriculation card.
• Tickets are available from the Fir Park Ticket Office or on the gate at Tynecastle.
• If you plan on making the trip to Edinburgh, check our our ‘Guide to Tynecastle’.
• Fans who require wheelchair access should contact Sharon or John McCaskie on 07745494631 / 07711 992161 or email disabledfans@motherwellfc.co.uk.

CELTIC:

• Concessions are listed as Over 65s and Under 16s.
• Juveniles are listed as Under 13s.
• The cheaper priced ticket is for restricted view only.
• Tickets must be pre-purchased from the Fir Park Ticket Office prior to matchday (open until close of play on the 17th January).
• If you plan on making the trip to Glasgow, check our our ‘Guide to Celtic’.
• Fans who require wheelchair access should contact Sharon or John McCaskie on 07745494631 / 07711 992161 or email disabledfans@motherwellfc.co.uk.

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Motherwell’s match with Inverness CT has been postponed due to a waterlogged pitch at Fir Park.

The groundstaff have been battling against the recent inclement weather, which has seen over 180mm of rainfall at Fir Park in the last nineteen days (the average figures for a month is around 30mm).

This has led to two areas in particular, in front of the East Stand at the half way line and at the East / South corner to become completely saturated, despite Head Groundsman Mikey Ellis’ best attempts to clear it.

An inspection was called for 8am this morning and the hope was that although the pitch was and is very wet, favourable conditions though the night would have seen it dry out to the point where it was playable.

Unfortunately, it wasn’t enough and Scottish FA match official John Beaton was forced to call the game off after inspecting it early this morning.

Motherwell Football Club would like to apologise for any inconvenience this postponement may cause.

No date has, as yet, been confirmed for the rearranged fixture.

The twelfth domestic Steelmen Matchday Magazine of 2013/14 is on sale when Inverness CT visit on Saturday.

But what is inside the 62-page issue?

‘Well boss Stuart McCall and Captain Keith Lasley both return with the regular columns.

The Fir Park gaffer praises his players for recent form but errs on the side of caution and warns everyone to keep their feet on the ground.

The skipper also chats about what he expects from another of the SPFL Premiership’s recent success stories in Inverness.

The feature interview is with midfielder Paul Lawson. The former Ross County midfielder talks about how much he is enjoying life at Fir Park, despite facing a battle for a regular spot in the starting eleven.

Laws also features as the next in the centre-page souvenir poster collection.

But that’s not where the features stop!

There is the usual extensive section dedicated to our visitors, Inverness Caledonian Thistle.

As ever, Ray Morrison introduces the Perthshire side and there’s a player-by-player breakdown of who is likely to line up for the Caley Jags.

We also report from the Caledonian Stadium and the hosts went down narrowly to rivals Ross County.

New Caley boss John Hughes also speaks exclusively to the ‘Steelmen’ Magazine about what he hopes to achieve in the Highlanders after following Terry Butcher into the Thistle hotseat.

The big features keep coming…

‘From the Press Box’ returns with regular host, the Herald’s Scott Mullen and the third of our Eggheads ‘Quarter Final’ clashes pits Lee Hollis against Simon Ramsden.

Ross Dunbar also returns with his latest ‘Football from around the World’ feature, which looks as the success of FC Augsburg in the Bundesliga.

But wait, there’s more!

Our match reports section takes a look back at the 5-1 win over Partick Thistle and the excellent 4-0 win against St Johnstone three days ago.

We have the latest from The Ticket Office and update from the Well Society as well as the latest stats, facts and figures from the 2013/2014 campaign.

We also take a statistical look at the match official and the ‘Junior Steel’ kids page that will test the youngster’s quiz minds with puzzles and ‘Did you know’ facts.

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 – CLICK HERE

Stuart McCall insists no one at Fir Park is getting carried away despite a recent run of good form.

The Steelmen have won all five of their matches over the festive period, propelling them to second in the Scottish Premiership table.

The former Scotland midfielder praised the resolve of his side for the way they have bounced back after a difficult week last month, but remains cautious, reminding everyone that nothing is won or lost in December/January, particularly with a tough test against Inverness ahead.

Speaking to the gathered press at Motherwell’s pre-match press conference, the ‘Well boss said: “I’ve repeated this sentiment on numerous occasions; we have good experienced pros in the dressing room and all their feet are firmly on the ground.

“No one will take anything for granted just because we’re on a good run, and I suppose you can look at the likes of Dundee United, who were flying high with six wins in a row, but have now lost the last few games.

[pullquote]“We need to stay focused on each game. It’s an old cliché, but we’ll take one game at a time. Things can change so quickly in football so our focus right now is on Inverness, and that will wrap up this tough five games we’ve had.[/pullquote]

“That can happen to any team, so there is no way we’ll fall into the trap of thinking we’ve done this or that; we’ve achieved absolutely nothing at the moment.

“Our greatest achievement is to have bounced back from the week we had a month ago and to have amassed forty points at this stage of the season which is terrific.

“There’s still a lot of hard work to do and our first aim is to make sure we’re in the top six, because at the start of the season that’s always our aim.

“St Johnstone are still very much in the mix, as are Hibs won yesterday and are capable of putting a strong run together, so there’s no danger of anyone here getting carried away, that’s for sure.

“We need to stay focused on each game. It’s an old cliché, but we’ll take one game at a time. Things can change so quickly in football so our focus right now is on Inverness, and that will wrap up this tough five games we’ve had. If we can come through unscathed, it would be terrific.”

-WATCH STUART’S INTERVIEW EXCLUSIVELY ON MFC TV–

Motherwell FC is today pleased to confirm winger Lionel Ainsworth has extended his loan period until the end of the current season.

The 26-year old has been in sparkling form of late, netting a goal in each of Motherwell’s last four games, and has been instrumental in the side’s recent run of good form.

His contract at Rotherham expires at the end of the current season but he’ll spend the last six months at Fir Park.

Speaking to the press after Motherwell’s win over St Johnstone on Wednesday, Ainsworth said: “I’ve led a bit of a nomadic existence and have always wanted to settle down.

[pullquote] I love this club. Everything they have done for me has been top class – even little stuff right down to the kitman and the office staff.[/pullquote]

“I have seen out two-year contracts here and there then not been offered anything. I’m in the last year of my contract at Rotherham so I will see what happens. I would love to be settled and to carry on playing where I am.

“If something permanent came up then I would definitely have a look at that. I love this club. Everything they have done for me has been top class – even little stuff right down to the kitman and the office staff.

“Nobody at Motherwell has ideas above their station and we play as a team. I have enjoyed playing in the Scottish Premiership immensely. I’ve had a lot of my friends come up recently to witness Scottish football first hand.

“This is Premiership football, the standard is good and I’m loving it.”

Extended highlights from Fir Park as ‘Well knock four past St Johnstone to kick off 2014 with a bang.

-WATCH THE HIGHLIGHTS EXCLUSIVELY ON MFC TV–

Action shots from Fir Park as Motherwell turn in an excellent performance to beat St Johnstone 4-0.

Snaps courtesy of Bill Murray at SNSPix.

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