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The international break is over. Motherwell welcome Hearts in the first game back at Fir Park in the Ladbrokes Premiership.

Here’s everything you need to know ahead of the match.

Familiar foes

The Steelmen take on Craig Levein’s side for the first time this season but it won’t be long until the two are getting acquainted again, as the ‘Well head to Tynecastle Park a week on Wednesday in the Betfred Cup quarter finals.

The two teams faced off four times in the 2017/18 campaign, with Motherwell winning twice at home, drawing once away and losing one in Gorgie.

Team news

Allan Campbell and Liam Donnelly will be assessed after returning from international duty with minor knocks.

Craig Tanner and Charles Dunne remain out long term, while Conor Sammon is ineligible to face his parent club.

Get your ticket in advance if you can

Both Motherwell and Hearts fans can get their tickets before turning up at the Fir Park through our ticketing website.

Adult tickets start at just £20, concessions £16 and kids aged under 15 get into all stands for £3.

You can watch it live online

If you’re based outside of the UK and Ireland, you can watch the match live from the comfort of your own home.

Just head over to our live streaming service and subscribe. Monthly packages cost just £12.

Hearts head to Fir Park on Saturday as the form team in Scottish football, but having lost on both visits to ML1 last term.

Here’s everything you need to know about the weekend’s opponents.

The undisputed league leaders

Four games, four wins. Hearts have been in red hot form so far in the Ladbrokes Premiership, scoring 10 goals and conceding just two.

Defeating Celtic and Kilmarnock 1-0, they also defeated Hamilton Academical and St Mirren 4-1.

The man in form

Steven Naismith will arrive at Fir Park with four league goals to his name already this campaign, including a hat-trick against St Mirren last time out.

But it is his international form that has drawn the most attention this week. Having been preferred to Leigh Griffiths in attack for Scotland, he got the touch that helped put the nation ahead against Albania through an own goal, before netting himself later on.

Levein’s decision

Manager Craig Levein is yet to decide whether he will be in the dugout on Saturday, having recovered from a health scare that briefly saw him hospitalised a few weeks back.

Levein has returned to training and undertook his press duties on Thursday, but said he will make a late decision on whether he will be formally in charge, or leave it again to assistant Austin MacPhee.

Stephen Robinson spoke to the broadcast press ahead of his side’s clash with Hearts in the Ladbrokes Premiership.

Here are the headlines from the press conference.

On domestic football returning this weekend

“We’ve had five boys away on international duty and you use the opportunity to give a couple of days off to the boys that worked hard, but then you’re back into it again so yesterday was the first day we had the boys back.

“Obviously we’ve done a lot of prep in the background with the boys that were here ahead of the Hearts game. But I’m looking forward to having everybody back again and having a good season ahead of the game.

“In the three games leading up to the break we performed really well and got some very good results, so yeah is a bit stop-start which it always is but it’s the same for everybody. So we don’t use excuses. Instead we take the opportunity to try and improve what we can and build on what we’ve already done.”

On opponents Hearts

“Obviously Hearts have started very, very well and I guess there’s a little bit of incentive for us to be the first side to beat them this season, but we always have incentive for our home games.

“We had a brilliant home record last season and we aim to keep doing that this season, so it’s a big game no matter who we play.

“We know Hearts are going to be a strong team, it’ll be physical, and we have to match that. But I think we’re playing some very good stuff at the moment and it’s going to be a good game.”

On Craig Levein’s return to work

“We wish Craig well and I’m glad he’s back in the fold again and it would be really nice to see him in the dugout.

“We all have tough jobs so it would be great to see him. But I don’t think it will affect the performances of either teams, Hearts have good staff there too who I’m sure will be more than capable of dealing with that.

“I try not to get too involved with other managers on the touchline to be honest, it can distract from the game, so I don’t think it would make a difference for us either way.”

Stephen Robinson says league leaders Hearts will present a physical challenge at Fir Park on Saturday which the Steelmen will have to face up to.

The Motherwell boss is confident his team will be able to do that, meaning it will come down to which side can get the ball down and play to ensure victory.

Stephen Robinson’s men take on Hearts at Fir Park on Saturday, looking to follow up on a first league win against Dundee.

Here’s a look at the game in numbers.

297

Saturday’s clash with Hearts is the 297th meeting between the two teams in all competitions.

This weekend’s Premiership match comes 126 years after the first ever meeting between the two, which took place back in 1892.

Should ‘Well defeat the Edinburgh outfit, it would be a 92nd victory for the club against Hearts.

16

The combined number of goals both the Steelmen and the Jambos have scored in the league this season.

Saturday’s encounter puts the divisions top scoring sides up against on another, with the two outscoring both Celtic and Aberdeen in the opening four games of the campaign.

In theory, it should make for an exciting encounter on Saturday.

Zero

The number of defeats Hearts have suffered this season in all competitions.

Craig Levein’s men sit top of the table, having won eight of their nine games in 2018/19, drawing just once.

They arrive at Fir Park on the back of seven straight victories, defeating the likes of Celtic, Kilmarnock and St Mirren en route.

17

Since the 2000/01 campaign, Motherwell and Hearts have met each other 30 times at Fir Park.

In those games, ‘Well have won on 17 occasions against the side from the capital.

Hearts have won eight of those, with the remaining five games ending as a draw.

Hearts are the visitors to Fir Park on Saturday as Ladbrokes Premiership action returns after the international break.

The Steelmen won both encounters between the pair in ML1 last season, running out 2-1 winners in both.

The league leaders travel to Motherwell

With four wins from four, Hearts come to town as the team clear at the top of the Ladbrokes Premiership.

Having scored 10 goals and conceded just two, the Jam Tarts have already put Hamilton, Kilmarnock, St Mirren and Celtic to the sword.

Fortress Fir Park

Stephen Robinson’s men won two from two at home against Craig Levein’s side in the 2017/18 campaign.

An early-season victory, with Jon Daly in temporary charge of the visitors, came courtesy of goals from Louis Moult and Ryan Bowman.

But the best was yet to come in the William Hill Scottish Cup quarter finals. With Kyle Lafferty having cancelled out Curtis Main’s opener, up stepped Carl McHugh with a rocket of an effort to win the match.

International experience

A few eyebrows were raised when Hearts forward Steven Naismith was given the nod up top for Scotland against Albania earlier in the week, coming into the team at the expense of Leigh Griffiths.

Any doubters were quickly silenced as the experienced man contributed to the first goal and netted the second in a big win for his country. He was joined in his performance by defender John Souttar, who looked assured and comfortable in only his second appearance for Scotland.

Finding form

After a slow start to the league season, Motherwell have kicked on in their last few fixtures. A 3-3 draw with Rangers proved a huge lift, with Peter Hartley’s last-minute equaliser the least that was deserved.

A week later, a visit to Dens Park proved profitable. Goals from Danny Johnson, Gaël Bigirimana and Allan Campbell sealed the first three points of the season and continued an improved run of form.

Academy director Stevie Hammell sat down for a coffee and a chat in the next episode of our regular feature. 

The ‘Well legend discussed the ongoing work at Braidhurst, as well as his hopes and aims for the future.

Our interview was filmed at the Windmills Cafe in Motherwell.

Windmills is a social enterprise cafe in the heart of Motherwell which is committed to ensuring young people with learning disabilities have equal access to meaningful work experience opportunities. For more information, visit Windmills Cafe’s website.

Kerry Montgomery is relishing the prospect of taking on St Johnstone in the quarter-finals of the SSE Scottish Cup and continuing an incredible season for the women of steel.

The SWPL 2 champions travel to McDiarmid Park on Sunday with a place in the last four up for grabs.

Saints present familiar opposition for ‘Well, with the two sides having faced off in league action twice this season.

On both occasions Motherwell have come out on top. The first was an impressive 6-0 success, while the meeting at McDiarmid Park last month was a much closer affair in which Megan Burns’ late winner secured a 2-1 victory.

“St Johnstone proved a tough opposition in the last meeting, so on Sunday we will need to be at our best to book a place in the last four,” Montgomery said. “We expect a hard challenge, but I think that’s the games the girls relish and when we show our best on the pitch.

“To reach the semi-finals and face a potential top three SWPL side would be massive for us and provide a great opportunity to test ourselves and see what level we are really at.

“A cup semi final would be a game everyone would be excited and desperate to play in, so Sunday is vitally important for us to go and get the win to give us that massive opportunity.”

Despite having clinched the league title with six games of the season remaining, Donald Jennow’s side showed no signs of complacency as they produced a superb display to defeat Central Girls 9-0 in their last outing.

Northern Irish international Montgomery is sure that the targets set among the players will help drive them on through the final games of the season.

“The win over Central signaled our intent for the remainder of our season, we want to finish on as many points as possible,” she added.

“It was a great team performance after the international break everyone was glad to be back on the pitch.

“I think especially our striking duo are keen to keep banging the goals in to claim the top scorer prize.”

With the step up to the top flight of Scottish women’s football on the horizon, Montgomery is excited about what lies ahead for Motherwell.

The close season brought overhaul among the squad, but the midfielder feels the togetherness within the squad is very strong.

“We are a very tight group for only being together nine months. There’s a good amount of experience among us which I think has helped us to be as successful as we have been so far.

“The banter between everyone is great even with the staff too, training is always enjoyable which I think is important. I believe the club has a promising future going into the top flight next season.”

Last month saw Kerry feature in Northern Ireland’s World Cup quaifiers against Ireland and Slovakia, moving her on 10 international caps. Despite losing on both occasions, she believes the experienced gained will stand her in good stead going forward.

“The World Cup qualifiers were a brilliant experience. It’s always an honour getting selected in the squad and representing your nation.

“We have a very talented group of players so I’m always learning and being challenged at the highest level, I’m looking forward to the next campaign and pushing for more senior caps.”

Motherwell Colts’ IRN-BRU Cup match with Sligo Rovers will be played at Fir Park.

The game is scheduled to take place on Saturday, 13 October with a 3pm kick off.

Tickets will be on sale for fans of both clubs via our online ticketing platform shortly. A pay gate will also be in operation on the day.

Adult tickets are priced at £8, concessions £4 and kids aged 15 and unders go for £2.

Concessions are 16 to 18 year olds, full time students with a valid matriculation card and ages 60 and over.

SSE Airtricity League Premier Division side Sligo Rovers saw off Livingston Colts to reach the third round stage, while Stephen Craigan’s youngsters defeated East Stirlingshire and Dundee Colts.

Motherwell fans are being asked to take part in this year’s Scottish Football Supporters Survey.

Operated by Supporters Direct Scotland, officially recognised as the lead supporters’ group in Scotland by the SPFL and Scottish FA, they have established a formal means to engage with the game’s key decision makers and represent fans’ views overall.

You can participate in the survey by clicking here

Last year’s survey results were presented to the Professional Game Board and at the Scottish FA Congress in December 2017. Almost 14,000 supporters participated in 2017, with overall outcomes including:

• The consideration of value for money, which was regard as “the biggest threat to the future of the game in the next five years”.
• Ticket pricing, kick off times and the relationship fans have with their clubs were considered to be the three most important factors in decision to attend a game.

You can read more about the results of the 2017 survey, and the resulting “asks” by visiting scottishsupporters.net.

The Scottish Football Supporters Survey will run annually over the next three years to allow them to continue to measure results and improvements, covering the topics of value for money, fan experience and supporter engagement.

This year’s findings will be reviewed by Supporters’ Direct Scotland, the SPFL, the Scottish FA and also an insight group consisting of key media and communications staff from various SPFL clubs.

The survey will run for two weeks closing on Sunday 16 September.