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We have four players away on international duty in October. 

Liam Kelly

Liam Kelly may have missed last month’s Scotland matches due to a back injury, but our skipper is back in the squad again this month, with the dark blues in action twice.

On the cusp of qualifying for EURO 2024, Scotland travel to Spain on Thursday 12 October knowing if they win or draw, they will earn qualification. The other match in the group could also play a factor. If Norway draw or lose in Cyprus, then Scotland will qualify.

If neither of these happen, Scotland can qualify on Sunday 15 October if Norway lose or draw at home to Spain.

In their second match, Scotland travel to France to take on Les Bleus in a friendly match on Tuesday 17 October.

Lennon Miller

Lennon Miller is once again in the Scotland Under 19 squad and they too, have two matches lined up this month.

First up, is a friendly against Ireland on Wednesday 11 October before facing Portugal on Sunday 15 October.

Both are friendly matches and both take place in Murcia.

Brodie Spencer

One of our September player of the month nominees, Brodie Spencer earned a call-up to the Northern Ireland squad this month.

They are in action twice in EURO 2024 qualifiers with both matches taking place in Belfast.

First up, they face San Marino on Saturday 14 October at Windsor Park. Slovenia then travel to Belfast on Tuesday 17 October.

Harry Paton

Having come so close to earning his first cap for his country, Harry Paton has had to wait two years to get back in the Canadian squad but the midfielder has done just that this month.

Travelling to Japan to take on the national team in a friendly match on Friday 13 October in their only match this month, Paton has completed his first goal of getting in the squad and now looks to earn his first cap.

It was an afternoon to forget for Motherwell, as the women of steel suffered a confidence-draining defeat at the hands of league leaders Celtic who cruised to a commanding six-goal advantage to extend their lead at the top of the SWPL league table.

An Aimee Gallacher and Katherine Loferski double was soon followed by strikes from Chloe Craig and former Motherwell striker Tiree Burchill to compound another frustrating experience on the road for Paul Brownlie’s side.

Brownlie made two changes from last weekend’s cup exit to Montrose, with Tara McGonigle and Jo Addie both returning to the starting XI, as Hannah Cunningham and Murron Cunningham settled for a place on the bench.

Looking to finally conclude their struggles away from home, a well-structured Motherwell side started brightly, limiting Celtic opportunities in the final third whilst creating chances on the break.

However, Motherwell were left to reflect on their positive opening to the game, as Celtic capitalised on a fast-paced counter-attack. Shen Menglu’s driving run from the left caught the Motherwell backline in knots before firing a low delivery across the face of goal, which Gallacher coolly dispatched form close-range.

The hosts doubled their advantage five minutes later, as Natalie Ross’ low delivery from the right was met by Loferski who directed a low effort into the bottom-right corner, beyond the reach of Emily Mutch.

Fran Alonso’s side had a third less than four-minutes later, as Craig powered home a well-placed header from Shen Mengyu’s floated corner kick, with Motherwell’s positive opening passage of play and structured game plan undone in a brief spell of complacency.

Celtic’s fourth came on the half-hour mark in similar circumstances to the opening few goals. Paula Partido’s low cross from he right flashed across the face of goal, and a clever first touch from Loferski allowed the striker to evade Gill Inglis’ late lunging tackle before netting her second of the afternoon.

The league leaders had five on the stroke of half-time, as Gallacher pickpocketed Addie deep into the Motherwell final third, and the striker calmly placed her effort past Mutch to secure a commanding five-goal lead at the break.

Celtic rounded off the afternoon on the hour mark, as former Motherwell striker Burchill drilled an exceptional effort from the edge of the penalty area which ricocheted off of both posts before nestling into the bottom-right corner.

The women of steel will return to action, with Dundee United the visitors at K-Park next weekend.

Kayla Jardine has re-joined the club on a short-term loan deal from Rangers.

The 18-year-old, who extended her stay at the club this summer after signing a short-term loan deal in January, was recalled to her parent club before making her first appearance of the 2023/24 SWPL campaign, as injury woes hampered the Glasgow side.

Jardine will now return to the club until January, looking to build upon the three goals netted across her first spell in Lanarkshire.

“I am extremely happy to get this over the line and can’t wait to get started,” Jardine said.

“This is a great opportunity to further my development as a player and I can’t wait to get back into it.”

Jardine, who was initially Brownlie’s seventh summer signing, will be available for this Sunday’s encounter with league leaders Celtic.

“Excellent addition to the squad,” head coach Paul Brownlie said.

“Kayla’s a very versatile, exciting young player who brings real creativity. We had to be patient, but I’m delighted its done and now the Motherwell support can look forward to seeing Kayla in claret and amber.”

Motherwell suffered their fourth defeat on the spin in West Lothian on Saturday, losing 2-0 to Livingston. 

Lennon Miller was shown a red card on the stroke of half time before Bruce Anderson and Sean Kelly made sure of the points in the second half.

The home side started on the front foot and nearly took the lead after just two minutes when Ayo Obileye headed just wide from a corner.

Brodie Spencer had Motherwell’s first real chance of the game. Sneaking in at the back post, the full-back headed back across goal, only for his effort to land just wide of the mark.

With the half of football producing few chances, Dan Casey went closest next. A speculative effort from a free kick just inside the Livingston half, the Irishman spotted goalkeeper Shamal George off his line before sailing an effort goal wards. The stopper managed to get back onto his line just in time and tipped the effort over bar.

The game would be completely changed just before the break. A Motherwell free kick turned into a Livingston counter attack and Daniel Mackay was put in behind the Motherwell backline. Miller was the furthest man back and the Livi winger cut across the 17-year-old and referee Don Robertson deemed there to be enough contact to justify a red card for denial of a clear goalscoring opportunity and sent Miller for an early bath.

Getting into the break on level terms was the first step for Motherwell but the next was to keep it tight in the early exchanges of the second period. Unfortunately, the hosts found the back of the net on 53 minutes. Anderson got on the end of a low cross into the box and finished past Liam Kelly.

Within ten minutes, it was 2-0. James Penrice was impeded by Bevis Mugabi in the area and a penalty was awarded. Facing his brother between the sticks, Sean Kelly stepped up and sent the goalkeeper the wrong way. 2-0.

Just after 70 minutes, Robertson pointed to the spot after Georgie Gent had apparently fouled Jason Holt in the box. VAR intervened and deemed the foul to have taken outside the box.

The match would finish 2-0 and gave the hosts their first win at home this season. Motherwell remain in fifth place going into the second international break of the season.

Stuart Kettlewell reacts to the defeat to Livingston.

• Frustrated verging on angry

• Naivety lead to the red card

• Unorganised

Our match with Ross County has been moved to Tuesday 5 December.

Kick-off is 7.45pm at the Global Energy Stadium.

The change in date was requested by Ross County, with both clubs agreeing to the alteration.

Canadian midfielder received his first international call up in two years this week, with Canada taking on Japan in a friendly match. 

Yet to get his first cap, the midfielder has earned his spot in the latest squad having put in a string of impressive performances.

Enjoying his football and enjoying his time at the club, Paton says he feels settled at Motherwell and likes coming to his work everyday. With a trip to Livingston on the horizon, he is fully aware of the obstacle in front of his team in the form of David Martindale’s Livingston but feels the team has been playing well and should be confident going into the match.

Callum Slattery is your G4 Claims player of the month. 

Winning the award for the first time since his arrival in 2021, Slattery was voted the top performer for the month of September.

Scoring the winning goal against Hearts at Tynecastle, Slattery made it four goals for the season.

With a pass accuracy of 91% against Rangers, he made nine interceptions and won 80% of his defensive duals against Celtic and St Mirren.

A box-to-box midfielder, he has been instrumental in linking the play from to front and has been operating in a more forward area of the pitch.

Harry Paton has been called up for Canadian international duty. 

Canada have a friendly match against Japan on Friday 13 October, with the Paton scheduled to travel to Japan.

Midfielder Harry Paton is yet to make an appearance for his country, having been named most recently in the squad for the Gold Cup in 2021. Although in line to make an appearance that time round, Paton contracted Covid upon arrival and missed a large segment of games.

Having been overlooked since, Paton’s recent string of strong performances for Motherwell has earned the midfielder the chance to represent his country once again.

• Japan v Canada 
• KO: 11.35am 
• Friday 13 October
• Denka Big Swan Stadium, Japan

Stuart Kettlewell was pleased to see his team’s reaction to the late sucker punch they received on Saturday against Celtic. 

Despite conceding the late goal, his team got straight back to work first thing on Monday morning, having dusted themselves down, and immediately drew out a plan for the match against Livingston in the cinch Premiership this weekend.

The manager discusses his thoughts on sticking to the plan that has seen us be so successful since February and offers an update on the injured players and their recovery plans.