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Jack Vale has joined the club on loan from Blackburn Rovers until the end of the season, subject to international clearance and paperwork. 

The Welsh 22-year-old frontman is a product of the Blackburn Academy, joining the club in 2016.

He has played for their under 18 and under 21 side and has spent time on loan at Rochdale, Halifax Town and most recently, Lincoln City.

Vale has made 25 senior appearances for Blackburn Rovers, with his debut coming in 2020, scoring two goals. He spent the first half of this season on loan in League One with the Imps, featuring 17 times and scoring two goals in the process.

“It’s great to get Jack in as he plays in an area of the pitch we have been desperately trying to recruit,” manager Stuart Kettlewell said.

“He has got plenty experience at Championship level for a boy his age and he is highly regarded of at Blackburn.

“Jack has found the back of the net regularly at Under 21 level in England and this loan will provide him with a platform and opportunity to do the same again in Scotland.”

He has also represented his country at youth level, from Under 15s to Under 21s.

“I’m really happy to be here,” Jack Vale added.

“I’ve seen how well Georgie has done here and I want to try and do something similar. I want to use this loan move to try and get myself more first-team appearances at Blackburn.

“I can’t wait to meet all the fans this weekend.”

Striker Sophia Martin has put pen to paper on a loan agreement from defending champions Glasgow City until the end of the 2023/24 SWPL campaign.

The Cambuslang-born forward makes the switch to K-Park, after making her debut for the Glasgow side in last seasons title-deciding year. Martin has since netted three times for the Petershill Park outfit in 17-appearances.

The 17-year-old signed her first professional contract in Springburn only days after her 16th birthday, and is believed to be the youngest ever female player to do so.

A product of the Glasgow City youth academy, the Scottish youth internationalist makes the move to North Lanarkshire, after representing her country across U15, U16 and U17 age categories. Martin will join fellow January acquisition Laura Berry after being named in the 21-player squad at next month’s MIMA Cup in Spain.

“This is another excellent addition for the club,” Head Coach Paul Brownlie said.

“Sophia has already had a wealth of experience at this level and this addition will add a new element to our forward line whilst providing the perfect environment to continue her development as a player.

“I’m really excited to get the loan deal done,” Martin explained.

“It’s a really good opportunity for me and my development, it will be a valuable experience for me in the next six-months.

“I can’t wait to get in with the team and work under the coaching staff.”

Sophia Martin will wear the number 9 kit this season.

It’s time to vote for your G4 Claims player of the month for January. 

Davor Zdravkovski, Theo Bair, Georgie Gent and Blair Spittal are all up for nomination.

To vote, head over to the Motherwell Facebook page.

Games in January

• Hibernian 2-2 Motherwell
• Motherwell 3-1 Alloa Athletic 
• St Johnstone 1-1 Motherwell

Motherwell take on Kilmarnock at Fir Park on Saturday 3 February. 

Kick off is 3pm.

How to follow the game

– Concessions Tickets would be ages 65 and over and FT Students with a valid matric card.
– Young Adults tickets would ages 12 to 17.
– Juveniles would be 11 and under

Supporters are able to buy tickets online here or visit the ticket office at Fir Park.

Ticket Office open from 9am – the ticket office is open until kick-off with no pay gate facility.

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 home kit for this match.

Injury Update

Callum Slattery and Jon Obika remain missing for this match.

Shane Blaney returned to the bench against St Johnstone on Saturday and could feature. Dan Casey and Barry Maguire will be assessed this week going into the match.

Adam Montgomery has picked up an injury in training and won’t be available.

Motherwell’s Fortunes

Motherwell made it four games unbeaten on Saturday, when they came away with a 1-1 draw from McDiarmid Park. A strong performance could have seen the Steelmen come away with all three points. Theo Bair made it four goals in three league matches with a first half header.

The result means Motherwell occupy ninth place in the table, on 21 points.

A late Harry Paton strike earned Motherwell all three points back in August against Kilmarnock, while Killie got the better of Stuart Kettlewell’s side in a 1-0 win down in Ayrshire in November.

Opposition Report

Kilmarnock have won two, drawn two and lost in their last five matches. Their most game ended in a 2-2 draw against Hibernian at Rugby Park, with Hibernian mounting a late comeback in the match.

A fine run of form has got Kilmarnock up to fourth in the table. Danny Armstrong continues to be a valuable player for Killie, with the winger currently on five goals and 12 assists in 30 games this season.

With the cinch Premiership resuming following the winter break, Motherwell travelled to Perth looking to continue a decent run of form in the last three games. 

With a depleted squad, the Steelmen got off the worst possible start, conceding inside four minutes from a free kick.

However, the reaction was impressive and having had a couple of sighters on goal, Theo Bair levelled the game on the half hour mark, with his fourth goal in three league games.

In the second half, Motherwell continued to dominate and created numerous openings but couldn’t find the back of the net for the second time in the match.

It’s now four games unbeaten for Stuart Kettlewell’s side, and their seventh draw in 12 matches, but Motherwell will focus on the positives going into their next match against Kilmarnock.

Striker Laura Berry has joined the club on a loan agreement from league leaders Rangers until the end of the 2023/24 SWPL campaign.

The Scottish youth internationalist makes the move to North Lanarkshire, after breaking through the first-team ranks at Ibrox and netting her first professional goal over Spartans on the opening day of the season.

A product of the Rangers youth academy, 16-year-old Berry signed her first professional contract in Glasgow after impressing in title-winning sides at both U16 and U18 level.

The forward has been capped for Scotland at U17-level, making her debut in a 9-0 victory over North Macedonia in March 2022, and has since been named in the 21-player squad at next month’s MIMA Cup in Spain.

“We are delighted to have Laura at the club,” Head Coach Paul Brownlie said.

“We identified Laura as an exciting young talent, who can enhance our options in the final third of the pitch. Signing a professional contract at a such a young age reflects her real potential and I feel like it’s a good fit for both club and player coming here at this stage in her career.

“We are excited with this addition and look forward to seeing her development”

“I’m really excited about joining Motherwell on loan, Berry noted.

“This is an excellent opportunity to continue my development and gain valuable match time. I think the second half of the season is going to be an exciting challenge to help the team. I am really looking forward to getting started.”

Laura Berry will wear the number 27 kit this season.

A closely-fought afternoon in the Scottish Capital failed to be accurately reflected in the scoreline, as Motherwell were left to rue their squandered opportunities, with Hibs capitalising on an unpredictable afternoon at a windswept Meadowbank Sports Centre on Sunday.

Jorian Baucom and Eilidh Adams both netted a brace over each half, with Shannon Leishman finding the back of the net in the latter stages of the game.

Head Coach Paul Brownlie made two changes from the defeat to fellow Edinburgh side Hearts over a fortnight ago. Murron Cunningham and Kayla Jardine both returned to the starting XI, with Jo Addie and Sarah Gibb settling for a place on the bench.

With the immense weather conditions persisting under the Meadowbank floodlights, Motherwell started firmly on the front foot, capitalising on the counter-attack and forcing the hosts into trading possession within their own half.

Motherwell skipper Gill Inglis’ driving run from the left infiltrated the Hibernian backline before being hauled down within the penalty area, but despite the adamant pleas of the Motherwell squad, the referee waived play on, much to the bewilderment of the visiting technical area. The visitors continued to control the majority of possession, but were unable to find the breakthrough within the opening exchanges.

Moments later, the deadlock was broken. After securing a free-kick at the edge of the Motherwell penalty area, Baucom continued her goalscoring record against the women of steel, latching onto Poppy Lawson’s floated through ball, with the striker prodding home from close range.

Less than two-minutes later, the hosts doubled their advantage. Racing through across the left-hand side, Abbie Ferguson coasted past numerous claret and amber jerseys, before teeing up Adams to convert at the near post.

After a frustrating opening to the contest, Motherwell were soon offered a route back into the game, with Morgan Cross being awarded a spot kick after Kirsty Morrison caught the forward with an overly high challenge, leaving Cross on the surface to receive treatment. Bailley Collins stepped up, but saw her spot kick and quickfire follow-up denied by a reactive Nina Wilson in the Hibernian goal.

Adams netted her second goal of the game shortly after the half-time break, with Michaela McAlonie slotting through a weighted delivery to the Hibs talisman, who picked out the roof of the Motherwell net.

With Motherwell forced to reinforce their forward line in search of a route back into the game, the hosts capitalised on the vast openings within the Motherwell defence, racking up two-late goals, with Baucom securing her second of the afternoon and Leishman adding her name to the scoresheet within the final few minutes.

Motherwell had to settle for a point after a frustrating draw with St Johnstone in Perth.

Ryan McGowan gave the home side an early lead before Theo Bair headed in a deserved equaliser against his old team.

Saints had a disappointing defeat last week in the cup but struck first in the third minute.

It was certainly not the start the Steelmen were hoping for as a free-kick wasn’t cleared properly and Ryan McGowan steered his shot home from close range. After a lengthy VAR check for a possible offside, the goal was eventually given, to the annoyance of Liam Kelly who picked up a booking.

‘Well then set about the task of drawing level with Georgie Gent looking threatening down the left, producing some good deliveries into the box but with no takers.

On the half hour mark, the Steelmen were deservedly level.

Blair Spittal whipped in a pinpoint cross from the left which found the head of Theo Bair who rose highest to expertly nod past Mitov via the post – the Canadian’s fourth goal in his last three league games.

That goal gave the Fir Park side all the momentum but they couldn’t find a way through as the first forty-five drew to an end.

The second have was largely dominated by Motherwell but a dogged St Johnstone defence continued to frustrate.

Georgie Gent fired inches over from the edge of the box. Blair Spittal’s low free-kick forced a decent save from Mitov. Harry Paton found himself free in the box but couldn’t hit the target – the chances came and went but as the clock ticked down, time ran out for the visitors to make their dominance count and a point as was all that was to be had from Perth.

Stuart Kettlewell’s post-match reaction as his side takes a point from Perth.

• Sloppy start
• Great reaction
• Strong performance overall

New signing Andy Halliday says he has enjoyed his first week as a Motherwell player and has already started to build relationships with every player at the club. 

The midfielder sees himself as a senior figures at the club and with that comes responsibility and trying to help the younger players in the team. He talks through his reasons for joining Motherwell and the influence Liam Kelly and Stuart Kettlewell had on the decision.