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Newly named captain Paul McGinn speaks about the pride and honour of being named skipper for the upcoming season.

The defender says he will be a slightly different captain to Liam Kelly.

Motherwell go into this final Premier Sports Cup group match with their fate in their own hands and manager Stuart Kettlewell think this scenario is an excellent advert for the competition.

Kettlewell confirms the injury update on Harry Paton who will now be out for a minimum of 14 weeks, as well as providing updates on Ross Callachan, Sam Nicholson and Callum Slattery.

The Motherwell boss all speaks about the recent speculation surrounding Apostolos Stamatelopoulos.

Midfielder Harry Paton has underwent surgery for an injury sustained in Motherwell’s 3-1 win over Clyde last Saturday.

The Canadian was forced off in the first-half following the incident. Manager Stuart Kettlewell has provided the following update on the state of play.

“Harry has had surgery on his ankle,” he said.

“It was a pretty bad injury. It looks like he’ll be out for a minimum of 14 weeks. We’ll support Harry to make sure he comes back from this injury.

“We’ve got the likes of Ross Callachan and Sam Nicholson out doing some pretty extensive work but not back in the group yet. That’s moving in the right direction.

“Callum Slattery is coming along really well, he has a smile on his face because he’s making good strides.

“He’s desperate to get back on the pitch but there’s a timescale involved. You won’t see him playing until well into November. If we introduce him too early, there’s a risk of another injury.”

The women of steel kicked off their pre-season preparations with a positive display against an experienced Livingston side, as both continued to build their fitness levels ahead of their respective SWPL and SWPL2 league seasons.

The joint training session enabled both clubs to feature the entirety of their squads, with rolling substitutions across both halves. Summer additions Mason Blyth-Clark, Sienna McGoldrick, Rachel Todd and Jenna Penman all featured in a mixed squad of experience and youth, with academy graduates Kyla Thomson and Hannah Cairns also featuring.

Blyth-Clark netted a hat-trick, with Todd securing a brace and contributions from McGoldrick, Jo Addie, Morgan Cross, Trialist and academy prodigy Thomson.

Motherwell broke the deadlock within the opening phases of play, as Blyth-Clark skilfully escaped her marker to convert from close-range before replicating the opener with a quickfire second moments later.

Todd added her name to the scoresheet moments later after calmly working her way through numerous Livingston jerseys before coolly dispatching an accurate finish into the top-right corner.

Morgan Cross evaded the Livingston backline midway through the first-half before racing through on goal and placing a precise effort through the legs of the goalkeeper. Blyth-Clark secured her first-half hat-trick as the half-time whistle neared, with the women of steel heading into the break with a comfortable advantage. 5-0.

Motherwell picked up from where they left off as the second-half resumed, with Todd netting her second from close-range. Jo Addie prodded home Katie Rice’s floated corner kick for Motherwell’s seventh of the evening. Trialist added to the scoreline moments later with an exceptional effort from the edge of the penalty area that nestled comfortably into the top-left corner.

McGoldrick calmly slotted home a ninth from within 10-yards before academy prospect Thomson drilled home an excellent composed finish after skilfully working her way into the box following an audacious solo-run from the halfway-line.

Motherwell B will take on East Stirlingshire at Fir Park in the SPFL Trust Trophy on Tuesday 30 July. 

Kick off is 7.45pm.

Tickets for the match can be bought online.

Adult tickets cost £5, with concessions costing £2. All supporters will be housed in the main stand.

Should the ‘Well progress, they will face either Celtic B or East Kilbride.

Sienna McGoldrick is our fourth signing of the summer.

The Scottish youth international midfielder came through the ranks at SWPL champions Celtic, breaking into first-team contention at only 15-years-old. The youngster joins the women of steel in search of regular first-team action – following in the footsteps of fellow international teammates Laura Berry and Kayla Jardine.

A combative and technically skilful player capable of operating across a variety of positions, McGoldrick broke the deadlock in the U18s SWF Scottish Cup final against Hearts; catching the eye of Head Coach Paul Brownlie.

“I’m really happy to have joined Motherwell for next season,” McGoldrick emphasised.

“Over the past few seasons, other young players have came here, gained the experience of first-team football and have really developed their game.

“I can’t wait to get started.”

McGoldrick has represented Scotland across a variety of age categories, making 5-appearances throughout her time within the international ranks; including an international call-up to the MIMA Cup in Murcia, Spain.

“This is a very positive signing,” head coach Paul Brownlie added.

“We identified Sienna as a very exciting young talent who could provide vital competition for places.

“I am looking forward to watching Sienna’s progression this season.”

Motherwell will round off their Group G campaign against Partick Thistle on Sunday 28 July.

Kick off is 3pm at Fir Park.

How to follow the game

This match will be exclusively shown live on Premier Sports 1.

Premier Sports will be broadcasting over 75 live games in total from the William Hill Premiership, Scottish Cup and the Premier Sports Cup, featuring exclusive Motherwell games including the following Premier Sports Cup Group stage games, with more to follow:

• Motherwell v Partick Thistle (3pm on 28 July – TV game – live on Premier Sports 1)

Motherwell fans can watch these exclusive games on Premier Sports – who are offering a special, limited-time annual offer of £99 for an entire year of Premier Sports by using promo code FITBA99, saving you £92 on the regular annual price – almost 50%!

To begin, head to the Premier Sports website.

Simply select the ‘Pre-Paid Annual’ option on the subscribe now page, and enter the promo code FITBA99 to avail of this special, limited time offer.

This will give you live and on-demand access to all 75 Scottish football games and all other channel content including LALIGA, United Rugby Championship and much more. This offer is applicable only to Sky and Premier Sports streaming service platforms.

If you have a Season Ticket, an adult ticket will cost £10, with all concessions costing £5.

If you don’t have a Season Ticket, adults will be £12 and concessions will be £6.

Motherwell season ticket holders will have until 25^th July at 5pm for the Partick Thistle match to reserve their seat, with the ticket being added to their season card.

To buy tickets, click here.

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

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

The Cooper Suite will open from 12 noon for food and drink again with our new caterers and the Centenary Suite from 1pm for drinks only.

Cooper Box hospitality will be the only hospitality on offer for this game.

Kit Watch

We will be wearing our home kit for Sunday’s match.

Injury Update

Paul McGinn made his return to the match day squad on Saturday against Clyde, with the skipper an unused substitute. Steve Seddon also returned to the bench following his absence.

Callum Slattery, Johnny Koutroumbis and Harry Paton will all be missing for this match. The latter came off in the first-half against Clyde after a coming together with a Clyde defender. An update on Paton’s injury will be published when details are confirmed.

Tom Sparrow remains out, as are Sam Nicholson and Ross Callachan.

Motherwell’s Fortunes

Motherwell’s win over Clyde last weekend put their chances of finishing top firmly in their own grasp. Sitting on eight points after three games, a win over Partick Thistle would see the Steelmen top of the group and safely into the hat for the next round.

Moses Ebiye got his first goal of the competitive season, as well as Lennon Miller and Filip Stuparevic. With Theo Bair’s departure confirmed, the team have stepped up in the goals department with seven goals scored by seven different players in the three matches thus far.

Opposition Report

Thistle play on Tuesday night against Clyde. Should they win, they would go top of the group by one point. A win in a penalty shootout would also see them go top, level on points with Motherwell but with a better goal difference.

A defeat would see them remain two points behind top spot, level on points with Clyde who have Montrose still to play on Saturday.

Permutations

To qualify for the second round, Motherwell would need to come first or be one of the best three runners-up.

The best three group winners join the sides in European competition as seeded.

This section will be updated following the conclusion of Tuesday night’s matches.

Motherwell knew a win would ensure their fate with regards to progressing to the next round would be firmly in their own hands. 

A short trip to Hamilton to face League Two Clyde was the third match in Group G for the ‘Well and they got off to a bright start early doors. With a list of chances, Moses Ebiye eventually found the breakthrough from Ewan Wilson’s cross.

More missed opportunities was punished when some slack defending costs the visitors and Clyde levelled.

Not getting hung up on this setback, Lennon Miller won a penalty kick just minutes later before stick the resulting spot kick into the roof of the net.

Filip Stuparevic made sure of the points with a fine curling effort with under 10 minutes to go and although the game could’ve been won by more, the job for the day was complete.

Top of the group, with Partick Thistle still to play, it’ll be a showdown on Sunday at Fir Park for that top spot in the group.

Stuart Kettlewell gives his thoughts on the 3-1 win over Clyde in the Premier Sports Cup.

Motherwell maintained top spot in Group G of the Premier Sports Cup with a 3-1 win over Clyde at New Douglas Park.

Lee Hamilton cancelled out Moses Ebiye’s early opener before a penalty from Lennon Miller and a first goal for Filip Stuparevic put to bed any fears of a repeat of Tuesday night.

Motherwell almost got off to a great start after just four minutes. Ewan Wilson’s cross seemed to confuse Kinnear in the Clyde goal which allowed Stephen O’Donnell to sweep the ball back across goal but Zach Robinson saw his effort cleared off the line.

Robinson had a second chance just moments later as he capitalised on some slack defending but from a tight angle couldn’t hit the target.

Clyde then responded well as Martin Rennie got on the end of a low cross but Liam Gordon was on hand to clear the danger.

Motherwell had the lead after 12 minutes after some good play by Harry Paton set up Ewan Wilson whose cross was converted by Moses Ebiye.

Krisztian Hegyi was a spectator for the rest of the half, with the Motherwell defence looking comfortable.

The Steelmen were forced into a change as Harry Paton, who played a vital part in the goal, had to limp off after going down in the box, with Andy Halliday being brought into the action.

Lennon Miller was controlling the midfield and he produced a great ball threaded though the defence to find Ebiye but with a shot looking a good option, he opted to find his strike partner Zach Robinson but the ball in wasn’t accurate enough and the chance was gone.

Motherwell came back out after the break and within seconds Ebiye almost had his second. O’Donnell clipped a fine ball over the top but the Nigerian snatched at his attempt to lob the goalkeeper.

The chances were beginning to stack up and Ebiye passed up another opportunity when Robinson pulled the ball back across goal but Houston recovered well and cleared off the line.

Chances then came for Halliday who clipped his shot just wide, Ebiye again who hit high and wide and Miller whose neat control and shot was well saved by Kinnear.

The Steelmen were made to pay for all those missed chances as indecision in the defence left plenty of space for Hamilton to take a shot and see it deflect into the net.

A more clinical edge was needed and that came just a minute later through 17-year-old Miller. The youngster jinked into the box and was brought down by the Clyde goalkeeper with Craig Napier wasting no time in pointing to the spot. The academy graduate dusted himself down and found the top corner from 12 yards. 1-2.

Clyde looked to have gained confidence from their goal but the goal from the spot appeared to have lifted the mood of the Steelmen. Zdravkovski took a free kick quickly, Miller drove forward before feeding Ebiye who blazed over the bar.

Miller went close next, this time from a dead ball from 25 yards. The 17-year-old got the ball up and over the wall but just missed the target.

The young starlet continued to be at the heart of everything going forward. Halliday plucked a long, high ball out the sky, laid back to skipper O’Donnell who found Miller. His first time effort was saved by the keeper.

The host’s best chance since finding the back of the net came 10 minutes later, when former Motherwell Academy man Logan Dunachie got on the end of a ball into the box and forced Hegyi into a smart stop.

Andy Halliday almost responded perfectly to that chance. The midfielder drove forward into the space, Clyde continued to back off and as he entered the box, Halliday got a shot away that skimmed just wide of the mark.

As the game went into the final 10 minutes, it would be substitute Filip Stuparevic who made sure of the points. The Serbian cut inside from the right flank and curled a fine effort past the keeper to make it 3-1 and end any anxiety in the stands.

Motherwell finish the week top of the group with one game left to play, against Partick Thistle next Sunday.