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Motherwell Football Club are delighted to confirm striker Ross McCormack has returned to the club on a five-month loan from Aston Villa, subject to international clearance.

McCormack, 32, spent two years at Fir Park between 2006 and 2008, helping the club to a historic third-place SPL finish in his second season, striking up a lethal partnership with both Chris Porter and David Clarkson in the Steelmen attack.

It was around that time he won the first of his 13 Scotland caps, making his debut alongside Clarkson against Czech Republic.

He now returns to Fir Park to bolster manager Stephen Robinson’s striking options for the second half of the 2018/19 campaign.

“I am delighted to be back,” McCormack said.

“Although I was a youth player at Rangers, got a good education there and played some first team games, I feel like this was the club that helped launch my career and I will be forever grateful for that.

“I’ve had a frustrating few years and I am desperate to just get back on the pitch again and do what I do.

“I want to put something back in to Motherwell for what they did for me all those years ago. My aim is to come in and score goals, help the team and help develop some of the younger talent in the squad.”

His past form for ‘Well earned him a move to Cardiff City in June 2008. He spent three years in south Wales, notching an impressive 30 goals in 60 starts for the Championship side, prompting Leeds United to sign the player in the summer of 2010 for an undisclosed fee.

Four successful years at Elland Road, netting 58 goals in 130 starts, including winning the English Championship golden boot in 2013-14, persuaded the then-Fulham boss Felix Magath to spend a reported £11m to take him to Craven Cottege.

His red-hot scoring form continued in London when, over his two seasons with the Cottagers, he scored 42 goals in 97 starts.

Roberto Di Matteo then paid the second highest fee in Aston Villa history, at a reported £12m, to take him to Villa Park in August of 2016. However, he fell out of favour and was loaned out to fellow Championship side Nottingham Forest in his first campaign.

He was out on loan again last season, spending another goal-laden spell at Melbourne City where he hit 14 goals in 14 starts for the A-League club.

He was back down under again this term, at Central Coast Mariners, but has cut his time short to return home to Fir Park and line up in claret and amber once again.

“We are delighted to get a player of Ross’ quality at the club,” manager Stephen Robinson said of the move.

“This is a player who has earned over £25 million in transfer fees, is the all-time top scorer in the EFL Championship with a record better than one goal in three games and is experienced at international level.

“However, despite all that, what has impressed me most is his desire to be here, to contribute and put something back in and help us for the rest of this season.

“He has a slight knee injury, that we’ve looked at extensively, which means he will be out for the next few weeks. But we hope to have him involved with the first team come the games at the end of January, or beginning of February.”

Ross will be allotted squad number 44, with youngster Dean Cornelius promoted to number 38 following Alfredo Agyeman’s departure at the end of his contract.

Ryan Bowman has left the club to join English League Two side Exeter City.

The striker has been at ‘Well for two-and-a-half years, following his deadline day move from Gateshead in the summer of 2016.

Since then, the 27-year-old has helped guide the club to two domestic cup finals, netting 14 goals in 86 outings.

However, with his deal set to expire at the end of the current season, the club opted to move him on with a view of freshening up the attack.

“Ryan is a player who always gives you 100% every game,” ‘Well boss Stephen Robinson said.

“He is industrious and unselfish and has been throughout his time at Motherwell.

“However, with the current options we have in attack, it’s my view that we need to change it up for the second half of the season and that’s what we intend to do.”

Everyone at Motherwell Football Club would like to sincerely thank Ryan for his contribution during his time at Fir Park and wish him and his family every success in the future.

It’s not just any old game. It’s the derby, and it matters.

This is the Story of the Match from the win over Hamilton Academical.

Tom Aldred bagged a double as the ‘Well came from behind to end 2018 with a big win at Hamilton Academical.

Elliott Frear, Andy Rose and goalscorer Tom Aldred spoke after the derby win at Hamilton Academical.

Stephen Robinson was full of praise for his Motherwell side as they came from behind to win the derby at Hamilton. 

“We thoroughly deserved it today,” he said. “The fans gave every player out on the park the confidence to get three points.”

A fabulous double from Tom Aldred provided ‘Well with the perfect end to the year and put some distance between themselves and the three sides at the foot of Ladbrokes Premiership.

The Fir Park men recovered terrifically from a Dougie Imrie 17th minute goal, Aldred equalizing four minutes later before striking the winner 13 minutes from time.

Faced with a horrendous list of injuries Stephen Robinson was able to field a side with the players at least starting in their recognised positions.

Peter Hartley was deemed fit enough to pair up with Tom Aldred at the heart of a defensive back four. Canada-bound Andy Rose made his final appearance in the middle of the park, while Conor Sammon took over the striking role from the suspended Curtis Main.

Motherwell were more direct in the early stages and forced a couple of corners. With Frear swinging them in from either side Andy Rose was first to make most of them powering his header narrowly wide.

Three minutes later and out of nothing Accies opened the scoring. Steven Boyd hoisted a pass down the middle and after latching on to the ball Dougie Imrie calmly steered it past the advancing Mark Gillespie and just inside the ‘keeper’s left hand post to put the home side ahead.

The lead lasted only three minutes. After getting his head to a couple of corners Tom Aldred finally made it count with his right foot. Frear’s corner found Hartley but when the ball broke back toward Aldred he steered his volley through a packed penalty box and inside the post.

Motherwell, with Frear providing a real threat on the left wing, held the upper hand until 12 minutes from the interval when they were forced into a substation after Richard Tait suffered from Lenny Sowah’s late challenge.

Accies then came within a foot of regaining the lead. James Keating’s curled free kick from 22 yards was on target but a wicked deflection wrong footed Gillespie who was relieved to watch the ball bounce just beyond his right hand post.

Although it was a fairly level first half, the Fir Park men completely dominated the second 45 minutes. Frear’s pace and crossing from the left wing continued to threaten the Accies defence but despite a series of inviting balls into the box Gary Woods was rarely threatened.

Everything was towards the Accies goal except from a header from Ziggy Gordon which provided Gillespie with a routine save. That gave the overworked home defence a breather before they were broken for a second time 13 minutes from time.

David Turnbull floated a free kick to the edge of the six yard box where Hartley challenged the Accies ‘keeper. The ball was cleared towards the edge of the box it was met by Aldred who again showed great control, this time with his right foot to drive the ball high into the net for a thoroughly deserved winner and send ‘Well seven points ahead of Accies and 11 above bottom placed Dundee.

Stephen Robinson knows the importance of Saturday’s trip to New Douglas Park.

The ‘Well boss has been hit with a host of injuries, but is determined to see his side put in a big performance in the Lanarkshire derby.

“We go in to a derby match of this magnitude determined to come away with something,” he said. :There are no excuses.”

Motherwell face Hamilton in the second Lanarkshire Derby of the season, and the final fixture of 2018.

The trip to New Douglas Park has added importance given the four point gap between the Steelmen in 9th and Accies in 10th.

Here, we take a look at Saturday’s opposition.

Reducing the gap

The chance to reduce the deficit between themselves and Stephen Robinson’s Fir Parkers to just one point will be huge motivation for Hamilton.

Equally, Motherwell could open the gap up to seven points with a win on Saturday.

There’s a lot at stake for both clubs ahead of another eagerly anticipated derby clash.

The search for a must-needed win

A run of just one win in eight games has seen league strugglers St Mirren and Dundee gradually catch up with Hamilton, who have lost six of their last eight league matches.

However, a 1-1 draw with Kilmarnock before Christmas is the sort of result that is capable of giving the hosts a boost before the derby.

The chance to go in to the winter break on the back of a win will further add to the home side’s incentive.

Form out the window?

As the cliché goes, all form goes out the window on derby day.

And with both sides heading in to Saturday’s match on the back of a poor run of form, the stage is set for one team to turn it around.

It’s a big weekend in store for both sides, and an intriguing way to bring 2018 to a close.

Motherwell make the trip to take on local rivals Hamilton Academical on Saturday.

Here’s everything you need to know ahead of the match. Kick off is at 3pm.

Team news

Trevor Carson, Craig Tanner and Chris Cadden are out long term. Liam Donnelly, Charles Dunne, Carl McHugh and Christian Mbulu are sidelined, while Curtis Main is suspended.

Peter Hartley and David Turnbull are doubts but could be fit in time to feature.

Head to head

Motherwell have won three of their last 10, beating Aberdeen, Dundee and St Johnstone.

The Steelmen have lost four of their last five, with the win at McDiarmid Park coming amongst defeats to Celtic, Hearts, Kilmarnock and St Mirren.

Accies have won two of their last 10, defeating Livingston and St Mirren. They’ve also lost four of their last five, with a draw against Kilmarnock breaking the run.

Pay at the gate

Due to demand, a cash gate will be in operation. There will be no more sales of tickets at Fir Park, and the offices are now closed until 3 January.

Supporters who have ordered tickets for collection will be contacted by the ticket office. These will be available for collection outside of turnstiles 10, 11 and 12 at Hamilton from 2.15pm until 2.45pm.

Turnstiles seven, eight and nine are in operation for Motherwell fans wishing to purchase tickets.

Supporters with pre-purchased tickets can access the ground via turnstiles 10,11 and 12, next to the Morrisons car park.

Cash gate prices are as follows:

Fans who require ambulant or wheelchair access should contact Andy Sim on 07428 225254 or email tickets@mfcdsa.com.