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Stuart Kettlewell knows how important cup runs can be when it comes to growing the football club and has made has made that a priority going into this week’s last 16 tie against Kilmarnock in the Premier Sports Cup.

The Motherwell boss believes bringing Tony Watt back for his second spell was a good bit of business and believes that the 30-year-old will do his talking on the pitch to win over the Fir Park faithful.

Kettlewell also provides an update on Apostolos Stamatelopoulos’s injury after it was confirmed he would be sidelined for six weeks.

Tony Watt became a fan-favourite for his goals and raw endeavour during his first spell in ML1. Scoring 19 goals and leading the line in style got the fans off their seats. 

However, that good work didn’t go unnoticed and soon enough, Premiership rivals Dundee United brought him to Tannadice in a deal that changed his family’s life and his own.

Now back for a second time, the reception has been mixed to the news of his arrival and that is something he expected. But, Watt only asks for the chance to outwork the criticism as he aims to reignite a loving relationship with the supporters and local community.

We are able to provide an update on a number of our injured players. 

Apostolos Stamatelopoulos was a first-half substitute against Rangers last weekend. The Australian international has picked up a quad muscle injury and will be missing for six weeks.

John Koutroumbis sustained a calf strain early in pre-season. Manager Stuart Kettlewell provided an update prior to our first Premier Sports Cup match where he stated Koutroumbis was due to be missing for a couple of months. He remains on track for that return date.

Ross Callachan will attend a consultation this week with regards to his hamstring injury to provide further information on his setback.

Filip Stuparevic is back running this week, however hasn’t taken part in any contact training as yet.

Long-term absentee Callum Slattery remains on course for his recovery. It’s expected the midfielder could make a return late November/early December.

Goalkeeper Matty Connelly has joined Lowland League side East Kilbride on loan until January. 

The 21-year-old made 11 appearances for EK during his loan spell their last season.

Keeping two clean sheets in that time, Connelly will look to secure the number one jersey and gain valuable minutes of first team football.

Good luck, Matty.

Motherwell are looking to progress to the quarter-final of the Premier Sports Cup on Sunday 18 August, as they play Kilmarnock. 

Kick off is 2pm at Fir Park.

How to follow the game

Season ticket holders have until 5pm on Thursday to secure your own seat.

• Concessions are over 65, Students and Young Adults (14-17)
• Juveniles would be 13 and under (must be accompanied by an adult)
• Ticket Office open from 11am – the ticket office is open until kick-off with no pay gate facility.

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

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.

What else is happening?

Radio Law will be on hand collecting money for a bucket collection.

They broadcast both live and automated shows from studio within University Hospital Wishaw.

They provide entertainment, of a local origin, to the patients of University Hospital Wishaw, helping to take their mind off the reason for being hospitalised. In recent years, this has been expanded by the station being available on-line, whereby relatives and friends can listen in and interact also.

Bars

The Cooper Bar will be open from 12 noon serving food and drink. Come along and try the club’s new food menu and have a refreshment before the game.  The bar will re-open for one-hour following the match.

The Centenary Bar will also open from 12 noon (for drinks only).  The bar will re-open for one-hour following the match.

Our new Beer Garden will open from 12 noon for drinks and hot rolls, weather permitting (home fans only).

Ticket Office

The ticket office will open from 11am as normal.

Hospitality

The Cooper Box is the only hospitality option for this match:

• 2 x complimentary drinks served to your box pre-match
• Access to Cooper Suite pre-match, half-time and at full-time for refreshments
• Half-time buffet served in the Cooper Suite 
• Indoor seat in an executive Cooper Box
• Match programme & Teamsheet

 Price: £45pp

Kit Watch

We will be wearing our home kit for this match.

Injury Update

Callum Slattery, Harry Paton, Ross Callachan, Sam Nicholson, Shane Blaney, Filip Stuparevic and Johnny Koutroumbis remain out for this game.

Apostolos Stamatelopoulos came off early against Rangers last Saturday with a suspected thigh issue. He will be missing for this match.

Motherwell’s Fortunes

Motherwell showed some fight against Rangers last weekend. Despite a depleted squad, Stuart Kettlewell’s side could consider themselves unfortunate not to come away with a point from the national stadium.

A draw with County on match day one sees the Steelmen remain on one point going into this match.

Apostolos Stamatelopoulos joined the list of absentees after the new striker came off early last weekend. That takes the total number of casualties up to eight.

Opposition Report

Kilmarnock have had a hectic start to their season, competing on a European front and domestically. They were knocked out of the Europa League by Cercle Brugge, falling to a 2-1 defeat on aggregate.

They now travel to Tromsø on Thursday night for the second leg of their Conference League tie, with the first tie ending 2-2 at Rugby Park thanks to a late leveller from Bobby Wales.

In the league, Kilmarnock are one of only two teams not to have got a point on the board as yet. An opening day 4-0 defeat to Celtic was followed up by a 3-0 loss to St Johnstone on home turf. Joe Wright seen red after just 16 minutes in the match.

Tony Watt has returned on loan from Dundee United until the end of the season. 

In his first spell at the club, the forward made 70 appearances in the claret and amber and found the back of the net 19 times.

“If you look at Tony’s record, he is available to play all the time,” manager Stuart Kettlewell said.

“He is a player who has done well here with goals and strong performances. We jumped at the chance to bring him back to Fir Park and Tony himself was desperate to return.

“Tony had lots of other options, both home and abroad, but he was fixated on coming back here.”

Watt left Motherwell for Dundee United in 2022.

“It’s so good to be back in the building,” Tony Watt added.

“I was itching to join Motherwell again and can’t wait to get stuck in.

“There’s obviously people who may not be too happy to see me back. I need to prove myself here and get people back on my side but that target is firmly set in my mind. I feel fit. I’ve been training and I have a full pre-season under my belt.”

Motherwell visited the national stadium looking for back-to-back wins against Rangers. In what was a hectic first 25 minutes, chances came for both teams.

Rangers converted two, while an own goal got Motherwell back level at one stage.

A depleted Motherwell side found their way back into the match and had it not been for some world class goalkeeping from Jack Butland, the Steelmen may have been leaving Hampden with more than just a pat on the back.

Motherwell came away from Hampden empty-handed on Saturday afternoon as Rangers secured their first win of the season in a 2-1 victory over the Steelmen. 

Despite late pressure and a great save from Jack Butland, first half goals from Cyriel Dessers and Václav Cerny gave the Glasgow side the three points.

The Steelmen had the first real chance of the game after just four minutes. Stephen’s O’Donnell’s flick over the top of the defence found Lennon Miller who was able to stay onside, however the 17-year-old could only find the side netting with his effort.

Incredible defending from captain Paul McGinn then kept the scoreline level as he raced back to clear off the line from Scott Wright, who had skipped past Aston Oxborough in the Motherwell net.

Rangers took the lead a minute later when Mohamed Diomande got on the end of a deep ball into the box and his header across goal was converted by Dessers.

Incredibly that lead only lasted a few minutes as from the next attack, ‘Well were level. Steve Seddon, on his first start for the club, advanced down the left wing and saw his cross steered into his own net by Robin Propper.

It looked like something to hold onto and build on but Rangers were back ahead shortly after. Cerny found far too much space and from the edge of the box curled his shot into the top corner of the net with a fine finish from his left foot.

Motherwell were dealt a blow as new recruit Apostolos Stamatelopoulos limped off with an injury and was replaced by Zach Robinson just before half time.

In the second half, Robinson had arguably the two best chances.

Firstly the ball dropped to him 12 yards out after good play from O’Donnell but he couldn’t hit the target.

As time was running out for an equaliser, he then produced an incredible save from Butland. Lennon Miller picked him out and on the swivel, his low shot was somehow beaten away by the Rangers stopper despite the number nine doing everything right.

Some half chances from Liam Gordon and O’Donnell didn’t threaten the Rangers keeper as the game edged closer to it’s conclusion.

It was all Motherwell at that point – with plenty of long-throws being launched into the box but the Steelmen could find no way through and left the national stadium with nothing to show for their efforts

Stuart Kettlewell gives his thoughts on the 2-1 defeat to Rangers at Hampden.

Summer signing Liam Gordon says he has settled in very quickly after his switch from St Johnstone and is looking forward to the season ahead. 

With so many injuries amongst the squad, Gordon explains why it’s important he does everything to avoid injury and also reminisces about his previous ventures to the national stadium.