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Stuart Kettlewell gave his thoughts following his side’s 2-2 draw with FC Twente.

“I’m delighted with the way we performed in our first pre-season game, especially considering the level of opposition.”, said the Motherwell manager.

“FC Twente finished third in the Eredivisie last season and although we don’t read much into the result, we can take a whole load of positives from how we applied ourselves against a top-class team.

“We had five new signings feature and I’m happy with how they are coming along. It’s good to get minutes into the legs of players and start to embed our way of playing into them, and also come away with no more injuries.

“We also have eight academy graduates here who aren’t just here to make up the numbers – these boys are pushing for a place in the squad.

“It’s been a week of hard training, which we will continue on Saturday, and will finish what has been a productive trip on Sunday against DSVD Deurningen.”

Motherwell kick-off their pre-season friendlies with a 2-2 draw against FC Twente.

In the first of two games due to be played in the Netherlands, the Steelmen had to be pegged back twice against Champions League level opposition.

Stuart Kettlewell handed starts to Liam Gordon and Zach Robinson with a largely familiar starting XI.

The hosts started dangerously, with Sayfallah Ltaief getting forward before seeing his effort being brilliantly matched by Aston Oxborough.

Motherwell got a foothold in the game and took the lead just beyond the half-hour mark.

Lennon Miller won himself a free-kick on the edge of the box and stepped up, curling a fine effort past Issam El Maach in the Twente goal.

Just before half-time, Anass Salah-Eddine tested Oxborough again but the tall Englishman was again equal to his strike.

Stuart Kettlewell then shuffled his pack at the break with a host of changes, inclusing handing gametime to newcomers Kofi Balmer, Tom Sparrow, Filip Stuparevic but within a minute of the restart the Dutch hosts were level.

Some nice play worked the ball into the box and substitute Daan Rots fired unstoppably past Aston Oxborough.

Special mention has to go to Oxborough again  as he pulled off an incredible close-range save.

There weren’t many clear cut chances after that as both sides worked away, shaking off any pre-season rust.

A moment of magic lit up the game with just over ten minutes to go.

Moses Ebiye found himself just inside the Twente half and fired an audacious effort over the head of Lars Unnerstall, earning a round of applause off of all in attendance.

The joy was short lived though as just seconds later, Daan Rots got his second of the game, levelling the game in what was arguably a fair result and a good ninety minutes of work into the legs.

Motherwell take on D.S.V.D Deurningen on Sunday, before flying home on Sunday.

Krisztián Hegyi has joined on loan until the end of the season from West Ham United. 

The 21-year-old goalkeeper has flown out to meet up with the rest of the squad in the Netherlands.

“Krisztián arrived late last night,” manager Stuart Kettlewell said.

“I’m pleased he has been able to join up with his new teammates and spend time with his new teammates.

“It can be tricky to recruit new keepers for a number of reasons but Krisztián brings quality and lots of potential.

“We now have two strong keepers at the club that can fight it out for that spot on the pitch come the start of the season. Krisztián has shown he has ability and with him only being 21, it’s clear he can still grow and this is the perfect environment for him to do that.”

Hegyi joined The Irons back in 2019, having been scouted from Szombathelyi Haladás in Hungary in 2019. Having seriously impressed with Szombathelyi Haladás, a number of high profile clubs sought to sign the Hungarian.

He moved to England where he continued to impress and eventually made his debut for the Under 18 side. After a couple of seasons, Hegyi was first-choice keeper for West Ham’s Under 23s, and was named captain for the 2022/23 campaign.

Having played for the national youth sides, he earned his first spot in the senior Hungarian squad in March 2023.

In the summer of 2023, the shot-stopper went out on loan to Stevenage, where he made six appearances in the first half of the 2023/24 campaign. For the second half of the season, he went out on loan to Dutch side FC Den Bosch, where he became first choice keeper and despite finishing second bottom of the table, kept six clean sheets in 17 appearances.

The fixtures for the new William Hill Premiership have been revealed and we will kick off the new season at Fir Park against Ross County. 

Our first away game will be to Rangers on matchday 2.

We will travel to Dingwall on Saturday 23 November. On Boxing Day, we will take a trip to Parkhead to face Celtic, before taking on Rangers at Fir Park three days later.

With there being no winter break, there are less midweek fixtures this season. We travel to Dundee twice midweek, facing Dundee United on Wednesday 30 October, and Dundee on 4 December.

The other scheduled midweek game is at home to Dundee on Wednesday 26 February.

All fixtures are subject to change.

Liam Gordon is a Motherwell player, joining on a two-year deal. 

The former St Johnstone centre-back has put pen to paper just in time for the pre-season trip to Delden.

“We have been working to bring Liam to the club for a number of weeks now,” manager Stuart Kettlewell said.

“I’ve spoken with people who know Liam really well and they all speak highly of him as a person, as well as a player.

“He is a leader and someone who gives everything for the badge. It’s that sort of mentality that we need in our team.

“We’ve brought in a player who was skipper at a team in our league last season, I think that really shows how good a move this is.

“I’m delighted he’s here in time for our trip away. It gives Liam a chance to engrain himself with his new teammates straight away and we can all begin to work together for the new season.”

Born in Perth, Gordon started his journey in football with Dundee during the early years of his career before Hearts signed him in 2014.

Initially playing in the Jambos’ Youth team, he was sent out on loan to Arbroath during the 2014-15 season, which would see him remain there for the second half of the season. Gordon made 11 appearances during his time there, his first at first-team level.

Tommy Wright brought the centre-back to McDiarmid Park in 2015, the start of a nine-year relationship with the club.

He joined Elgin City on loan during his first season in Perth, having featured for the first-team during pre-season. He went on to make his competitive debut for St Johnstone in the latter stages of the 2015/16 season, starting against Hearts in May.

Gordon remained at St Johnstone for the first half of the 2016/17 season before joining Peterhead on loan in January 2017 until the end of the season. He made 11 appearances during his stay.

That loan move proved to be a successful one as he signed a new two-year deal with St Johnstone in the summer of 2017 and began to play more regularly for the Perth side.

By August 2020, he had made 50 appearances for his team and had worn the armband by the December of that year. He was part of the team that created history in 2020, when St Johnstone did the double, lifting the League Cup and the Scottish Cup. Shortly after that success, he was officially named Club Captain.

A regular feature ever since, Gordon made a total of 201 appearances for St Johnstone before his contract expired in May 2024. The 28-year-old now switches to North Lanarkshire with 165 top-flight games under his belt.

“It’s great to be here,” Liam Gordon added.

“I know a lot of the boys and have played against them so many times. I just know this is a good club and a good place to be.

“There have been a lot of conversations between the manager and myself. The project and ambition is clear to see and I’m glad I can be a part of that.”

Filip Stuparevic has finalised his move to Motherwell on a two-year deal, with the club having an option of a further year.

The 23-year-old Serbian forward made his Serbian top-flight debut at the age of 15 with Voždovac. That appearance in July 2016 meant he became the youngest player to ever play in the Serbian first tier.

After a year of development, he scored his first goal for the club at the age of 16.

He enjoyed two seasons at Voždovac, making over 35 appearances and scoring two goals before Watford secured his signature. It was reported that the likes of Valencia and Juventus were also looking to sign the forward.

The Premier League side signed the then 18-year-old, in a reported multi-million pound deal, but he remain on loan Voždovac, where he made a further 31 appearances, scoring eight goals.

In his second year as a Watford player, he joined Příbram in the Czech Republic for six months before returning to Voždovac for the second half of the campaign.

Stuparevic left Watford in 2021 to join Serbian side Metalac Gornji Milanovac where he netted five in 28 games across all competitions.

A short spell with United Arab Emirates side Al Urooba would come next before he joined Domžale in Slovenia.

Last season, he scored seven goals in 23 games in all competitions and became a real fan favourite. With his deal expired, the Slovenian side offered Stuparevic a new deal but an agreement could not be made.

Now he moves to Scotland looking for the next step in his career.

“With over 100 games played in the Serbian top-flight, I think you can see he has experience,” manager Stuart Kettlewell said.

“He had a really successful start to his football career and burst onto the scene. I think when you have teams in the Premier League and teams like Juventus interested in you, it shows us all the talent Filip has.

“Filip had a really good season last year and having watched all his games, I know the type of player we’re getting. He has real flair and can do a lot of good when on the pitch.

“I think everyone will see he can score, assist and work hard.”

Callum Slattery has signed a contract extension with the club.

The midfielder has put pen to paper on a one-year deal, with club holding the option of a further year.

“It’s so good to continue my stay here,” Slattery added.

“I’m thankful to the club for the faith and trust they have shown. I know I can get back to the levels I’ve shown before and more.

“My focus is now just getting fit and getting back out there. I’m really missing playing in front of everyone at Fir Park. I will continue my recovery and look forward to seeing everyone again soon.”

Slattery first joined Motherwell in 2021, and has gone on to make 94 appearances thus far. He suffered a serious knee injury in training back in January and has been sidelined since.

On track for what he claims was going to be one of his best seasons in his career, Slattery continues his recovery during the off-season.

“Callum’s injury was a setback for the team but also for him personally,” manager Stuart Kettlewell said.

“He had been playing regularly, scoring goals and helping the team. His confidence was high and I was gutted for him when he picked up the injury.

“However, there is no doubt in my mind that Callum will get back to that level of performance when he returns. So, for that reason, we’re delighted that we have agreed a deal with him.

“His recovery is going well and he’s working hard behind the scenes.”

Stuart Kettlewell has added Zach Robinson to his squad ahead of the new season. 

The former Dundee and Wimbledon striker has signed a two-year deal with the club.

“It’s pleasing to see another new face at the club,” manager Stuart Kettlewell said.

“Getting so much business complete early on gives us a real base to work with.

“Zach is still young but has good experience of football in Scotland. He knows where the back of the net is and he adds more options for us up the top end of the park.”

Robinson is a product of the AFC Wimbledon academy, breaking into the first-team in 2019. Throughout his five years with Wimbledon, he has enjoyed a number of loan spells with the likes of Basingstoke, Leatherhead, Woking, Hemel Hempstead and Hampton and Richmond.

After these successful loans, he signed a new two-year deal with AFC Wimbledon before joining Dundee in the Championship as they looked to bounce back to the top-flight. During his first season at the Dee, he scored eight goals in 19 games and was recalled by his parent club in January.

He returned to Dundee shortly after and continued where left off. Leading the line as Dundee stormed to the Championship title, the 21-year-old finished on 12 goals in 29 games during the league campaign.

In the summer of 2023, he returned to Dens Park for another season-long loan where despite injury and limited minutes, scored six goals in all competitions, one of which was against Motherwell back in the 3-3 draw at Fir Park in December.

He left AFC Wimbledon at the end of the season, having been there since 2017 and joins Motherwell for the next two seasons.

“I’m really happy to be here,” Zach Robinson added.

“I’ve only heard good things about the club from people that I’ve talked to. Everyone I have met has been great and it just makes the move so much easier.

“I feel like I’ve got more to give and this seems like the perfect place to do so with all the excellent staff that are at the club.”

Ross Tierney has departed the club joining Irish side Bohemian F.C. for an undisclosed fee. 

The 23-year-old made 38 appearances, scoring four goals since joining the club in 2021.

Scoring against both Rangers and Celtic, and netting a last minute equaliser against St Mirren, Tierney was part of the side that clinched European football in the 2021/22 season.

Tierney went out on loan last season to League Two side Walsall and made 35 appearances down in England.

He now joins his former team Bohemian for a second spell.

The club thanks Ross for his service and wishes him all the very best in the future.

Ross Callachan has joined the club on a one-year deal, with an option of a further year. 

The 30-year-old makes the switch to Fir Park after his contract expired with Ross County last month.

“I’m delighted to have Ross at the club,” Manager Stuart Kettlewell said.

“He’s been unfortunate over the past year with certain injuries that forced an extended spell on the sidelines, but Ross has recovered well and is ready to kick on this season.

“Ross is an experienced professional especially throughout Scottish football, and we believe he can really add quality to our midfield.”

“I can’t wait to get back onto the pitch,” Callachan said.

“Last year was a tough season for myself personally, but my recovery has gone to plan and the opportunity to play for Motherwell was something I simply couldn’t turn down. This feels like the perfect next step in my career.”

Centre midfielder Callachan represented Raith Rovers at youth level before joining their first-team in 2010, making his senior debut at the end of the 2010/11 season.

After seven appearances the following season, he spent some time out on loan with Mussleburgh Athletic.

He then became a regular feature for Raith Rovers in the seasons that follow and accumulated over 160 appearances before moving to Hearts for an undisclosed fee in 2017.

In his only season in Edinburgh, he made 25 appearances, scoring four goals before switch to St Johnstone.

After 18 months at McDiarmid Park, he made a loan move to Dens Park in the January of 2020. His short stint in Dundee would be tainted with injury as the midfielder suffered a leg fracture and only made four appearances.

Once football returned following the Covid-19 lockdown, he joined Hamilton Accies in the Premiership. He spent one season at Hamilton, where he was a shining star in the side that were eventually relegated. He scored 10 goals from the middle of the park and come the end of the season, interest was high.

Ross County eventually won the race for his signature and he moved to Dingwall in the summer of 2021. In his first season, Callachan became an integral part of the Staggies’ side that went on secure top-six status. His initial two-year deal was extended by a further two years, which kept him at the club until 2024.

He had made 28 appearances the following season, 22/23, before he ruptured his ACL in a match against Celtic in April 2023. That injury kept him sidelined for over a year before he returned to Ross County’s bench in May 2024.

With 126 Premiership appearances, and 127 Championship, Callachan now returns to Lanarkshire with the Steelmen as he looks to pick up where he left off prior to his injury lay off.