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Conor Wilkinson is raring to go having missed a part of the early season due to injury. 

The number 99 felt the injury came just when he was getting started, having netted twice already. Now fully recovered, he wants to show everyone what he is capable of and wants to prove his value in the team.

Wilkinson says spirits are high in the dressing room going into this weekend’s match at St Johnstone and that the team want to prove a point having lost their last four matches.

An evening in the capital awaits the women of steel, as Motherwell prepare to head into the international break with back-to-back victories following last weekend’s prolific display against Dundee United.

Motherwell dusted off their month-long goalless drought in emphatic style, firing six-goals past an uninspiring Dundee United side to narrow the gap to the top-six in a rampant display at K-Park. Paul Brownlie’s side now turn their attention to Hearts this weekend in the final pre-international break match at the Oriam on Sunday.

The Tale of The Tape

Motherwell

Motherwell head to the capital buoyed by their exceptional display over United, a pivotal result ahead of the forthcoming international break.

Bailley Collins netted her first two goals in claret and amber, as Jo Addie, Laura McCartney, Kayla Jardine and Captain Gill Inglis also netted. The latter securing a rightful place in the Scottish Power Women’s Premier League for their impressive contribution.

Motherwell will seek to address their troubled away record this season, with the women of steel yet to pick up their first points on the road despite netting against Aberdeen, Glasgow City and Rangers.

Hearts

Hearts have cemented a positive start to the 2023/24 SWPL campaign, with the Jambos unbeaten in their last three league encounters. A 6-1 demolition of Partick Thistle was soon followed by victory over Spartans and a closely-fought point against Montrose.

Eva Olid’s side sit narrowly outside of the Glasgow frontrunners in fourth, four points clear of Motherwell in seventh.

Whilst demonstrating the attacking threats at their disposal, the capital side have been susceptible to conceding numerous goals on the counter. 10-goals have found the back of the Hearts net in their past three matches in all competitions, with Hearts also dropping points from winning positions against both Montrose and Celtic.

Ticket information

Cash & card payments are also available for this fixture.

• Adult – £8
• Concession – £3
• Under 16s/Over 65s – £3.
• Supporters can purchase tickets here.

How to follow the action

Supporters can follow Sunday’s encounter on Twitter @motherwellwomen, with a full report of the action available post-match.

Stuart Kettlewell was full of pride watching Liam Kelly earn his first Scotland cap at senior level.

The Motherwell skipper started against France on Tuesday night and almost made it a night to remember, as he got a hand to Kylian Mbappe’s first half penalty. Despite conceding three goals, Kettlewell insists the number one will be much better for the experience and will come to training with a spring in his step.

The manager offers and update on long-term absentees Calum Butcher, Jon Obika and Mika Biereth, with the former potentially earning a spot in the squad against St Johnstone.

Kettlewell believes that despite people writing off St Johnstone already, he has seen them make small steps to improving and believes with them not earning a win just yet in the league, the Perth side will be hungrier than ever and present a difficult challenge.

Racism has no place in football or society. 

A recent survey undertaken by Show Racism the Red Card showed 46% of staff are aware of racist bullying or discrimination in Scottish schools, while 66.4% are aware of pupils expressing misconceptions, stereotypes, or negative attitudes that are racist.

It is the responsibility of us all to ensure that the anti-racism message is spread far and wide for everyone to see.

This is why we are proudly continuing our support of Show Racism the Red Card’s Match Actions Campaign during our match against St Johnstone on Saturday 21 October and our women’s match against Hearts on Sunday 22 October.

Show Racism the Red Card is the UK’s leading anti-racism Education Charity, working within schools, workplaces, sports, and community organisations to educate children, young people, and adults on challenging prejudice and stereotypes.

Using the power of football is a powerful tool to initiate conversations about anti-racism and our club has supported their messages of tolerance and inclusion for many years. Now more than ever, the importance of active anti-racism cannot be overstated.

Across Scottish football, clubs will show their commitment to anti-racism over one weekend – Friday 20th, Saturday 21st and Sunday 22nd October. This weekend also coincides with Show Racism the Red Card’s UK-wide annual fundraising drive, Wear Red Day, taking place on Friday 20th October. On this day, individuals and groups up and down the country are encouraged to wear red and donate to show their support for the campaign and its message.

The Match Actions weekend also takes place during Black History Month and as part of the celebrations, SRtRC are partnering with the National Library of Scotland. On the 26th October at Glasgow’s Kelvinhall, there will be a film screening and discussion about Andrew Watson, Scotland and the world’s first black international footballer.

“We are delighted with the support for anti-racism that exists within Scottish football and are very proud of our upcoming match actions,” Billy Singh from Show Racism the Red Card said.

“However the work must continue. We call on our supporters to continue to challenge racism.

“It is a shared responsibility across the game, from dressing rooms to boardrooms, and from stadiums to social media, to ensure that an anti-racism ethos is maintained throughout the year. And please remember that all our teams are made up of different nationalities from all over the world. Migrants make a positive contribution to Scotland and that’s something we should celebrate.”

“It is vital that we continue to use our voice to say that racism is not welcome in football nor in society,” Motherwell FC manager Stuart Kettlewell stated.

“Unfortunately, we still see instances of racism across the globe. It truly is horrible to see and we must all stand up and condemn these acts.

“We must stand against racism.”

“We are lucky we get to enjoy a sport where you meet individuals from all walks of life,” Motherwell Women forward Kaela McDonald-Nguah said.

“It’s vital we show our support for one another from the changing rooms all the way onto the pitch. Football is a fantastic platform to drive out any racism and discrimination.

“We at Motherwell are proud to continue our support of the brilliant work carried out by Show Racism the Red Card.”

Football is a sport that is loved across the world and football matches should be an enjoyable experience for everyone, of all backgrounds. Education is the key and in the 27 years the Show Racism the Red Card has been running, they have educated over 1 Million participants, reaching that significant milestone in March 2023.

We are proud to support them to reach their next big milestone and to ensure Scotland is equipped with the tools to challenge and eradicate racism from football and society.

For useful resources and information from Show Racism the Red Card, please visit their website  and explore their anti-racism video platform.

You can also follow them on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.

Three Motherwell fans have been appointed as Supporter Liaison Officers (SLOs) at the club, to help enhance the match day experience for all fans.

Russell Hepburn, Kate Kelter and Graham MacNair will share the UEFA-approved role after the Well Society cast the net for volunteers.

As well as providing a point of contact for any issues on match days, the SLOs will encourage the involvement and engagement of supporters and feed their views into the club decision making process.

Ticketing and travel information for away games will be communicated through a new, dedicated X (formerly Twitter) account: @MotherwellFCSLO. Further information is available on the SLO page of the website.

Tom Feely, co-chair of the Well Society, said: “As a fan-owned club, the SLO role is something we have wanted to develop. We’re looking forward to working alongside Russell, Kate and Graham to ensure better two-way communication, and a good experience – home and away – for all fans.”

Kate’s background in nursing gives her a level-headed, practical approach. She said: “I’m a life-long fan of Motherwell, through thick and thin. I want the very best for fans and club alike. I have years of experience both personally and professionally, and am looking forward to the opportunity to put these skills into practice for the benefit of the club I love.”

Russell is the youngest of the three, but has already notched up experience in the communication sector, acting as a social video journalist and editor.

He said: “I’m confident that my experience, and the fact that I am a normal fan, will ensure I’m approachable for fans to come to with any issues. I’m passionate about getting to know more of our fan-base and to help ensure communication is a two-way process.”

A former senior manager in Financial Services IT for more than 30 years, Edinburgh-based Graham can’t wait to get involved.

He said: “I was born a stone’s throw from Fir Park. I am a life-long supporter and have seen the ‘good, the bad and the ugly’ through the years.

“I try to get to as many away matches as I can, and was one of the founding members of the East of Scotland MFC Supporters Club, and continue to play an active role in the branch three decades on.

“I am well versed in the kinds of issues that fans face when they live far from Fir Park, or when they travel to games, and I look forward to the start of a new initiative to improve communications between fans and the football club.”

The trio will share match day duties across the season, with Kate Kelter on duty at McDiarmid Park in Perth this Saturday as we get back to SPFL league action against St Johnstone.

Stuart Kettlewell has offered an update on Jon Obika, Mika Biereth and Calum Butcher. 

“We expect Mika to be back here and training with us next Thursday, if everything goes according to plan,” manager Stuart Kettlewell said.

“Having spoken to Mika and Arsenal, his recovery plan has gone exactly as planned.

“Jon Obika is a fraction further behind but Calum Butcher has trained on Monday, full contact training.

“It was a breath of fresh air to see him back and I was impressed by the levels he showed. He didn’t look as he was a million miles away from where he was before he got injured.

“He puts himself into contention to be in the squad on Saturday however it’s a big ask for him to start and we don’t want to ask him to do too much to soon.”

The international break is now over and Motherwell are now back in the league action with a trip to Perth to take on St Johnstone. 

Kick off 3pm at McDiarmid Park.

How to follow the game

Tickets are available to purchase online.

For the £18 family deal, all ticket holders must enter via turnstile 5 – strictly 1 adult and a maximum of 2 Under 12s only.

There will be a limited amount of accessible parking bays for visiting supporters to book in advance (£5 – payable on the day.)

Please email dao@perthsaints.co.uk with your name and vehicle registration to book.

If you are outside the UK, you can watch the game via Motherwell TV.

Should you be in the UK, it will be live commentary only.

Kit Watch

We will be wearing our away kit for this match.

Injury Update

Calum Butcher is in contention for the squad for this match, as he would be looking to make his first appearance since May through injury. He is still a doubt for the match and will assessed closer to the game.

Mika Biereth and Jon Obika are also closer to a full recovery but will not be available for this match.

Motherwell’s Fortunes

It may be four defeats in the last four but that doesn’t really tell the full tale for the Steelmen.

A disappointing 2-0 defeat at Livingston in their last outing left a bitter taste in the mouth going into the October break.

Having played all of the top three in the last four games, it was a difficult run of fixtures with Motherwell sitting on 10 points in fifth place in the table.

Opposition Report

St Johnstone are yet to pick a win up in the league this season. With three draws and two defeats thus far, the Perth side are sitting bottom of the league after eight games.

Goalkeeper Dimitar Mitov has made a particularly impressive start to the season, putting in a string of strong performances, including at Celtic Park where he helped his side earn a point against Celtic.

His run of form got him back in the Bulgarian international squad in September.

The October International break saw four Motherwell players leave ML1 to represent their countries.

Liam Kelly

Scotland suffered defeat in both games but it ended up being an eventful few days for our number one.

Kelly had to watch from the bench as the Scots narrowly lost 2-0 to Spain, with Scott McTominay’s goal being controversially ruled out.

But results on Sunday evening meant that Scotland had successfully qualified for the European Championships in Germany next year. A great achievement for Steve Clarke’s men, with qualifying games to spare .

On Tuesday, Liam was rewarded for his hard work and dedication with a start against the World Cup finalists France, earning his first cap for the National team.

Billy Gilmour gave Scotland an early lead but the home side roared back and scored three before half-time including the surreal sight of Kylian Mbappé, one of the best players in the world, stepping up to take a penalty into Motherwell’s goalkeeper.

Kelly became the first Motherwell goalkeeper to represent Scotland since Allan McClory in 1934.

Harry Paton

Paton embarked on a 5,700 mile journey to take on Japan and on a personal note, it proved to a be a worthwhile trip as he finally earned his first Canada cap.

With his team already 4-0 down, manager Mauro Biello rewarded the midfielder with his first appearance in the 61st minute as he replaced CF Montréal’s Sam Piette.

Junior Hoilett scored a consolation goal in the last minute as Japan proved to be too strong at the Denka Big Swan Stadium.

Paton will be looking for the chance to represent his country once again when the Canadians return to CONCACAF Nations League action in November.

Lennon Miller

With two friendly matches lined up, Scotland Under 19s based their camp in Murcia with a double header against Ireland and Portugal.

In their first match, Lennon Miller was named in the starting 11 and played 70 minutes of the match. Unfortunately, it would be a 2-0 loss for the Scots.

In their second match against Portugal, the young Scots lost 1-2. Miller played the full 90 minutes but a late goal from Aston Villa’s Rory Wilson wasn’t enough to prevent defeat in Spain.

Brodie Spencer

Northern Ireland kicked off their home double-header with a 3-0 win over San Marino at Windsor Park.

Spencer came on with ten minutes to go as Northern Ireland recorded their second win of their Euro 2024 Qualifying campaign

The lost their second game 0-1 against Slovenia, with Spencer being an unused sub as Michael O’Neill’s ten-men chased a deficit from the fifth minute.