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We have six players away on international duty this month, across the world. 

Liam Kelly

Liam Kelly was one of four goalkeepers named by Steve Clarke ahead of two international friendlies this month.

Fighting against Angus Gunn, Zander Clark and Craig Gordon for a spot between the sticks, Scotland travel to the Netherlands on Friday 22 March. Kick off is at 7.45pm at the Johan Cruijff ArenA.

Scotland then return home for a home friendly match against Northern Ireland at Hampden on Tuesday 26 March. Kick off is 7.45pm.

The two friendly matches provide Steve Clarke with a final look at players ahead of his next squad selection, which is for the Euros in Germany.

Bevis Mugabi

Having cemented his position in the heart of the defence in the last few games for Motherwell, Mugabi earned another call up for the Cranes as Uganda have two matches.

They will be based in Morocco and are in action twice.

First up, is a friendly against Comoros at Stade de Marrakech on Friday 22 March. Kick off is 9pm.

Mugabi and the Cranes will then round off this camp with a match against Ghana at Stade de Marrakech on Tuesday 26 March. Kick off for that one is 4pm.

These matches will provide preparation for Uganda under new coach Paul Put, ahead of qualifiers in the summer.

Theo Bair

He made no secret of wanting to return to the Canadian setup when arrived at Motherwell in August, but after a four year absence, Bair was called up by his country.

It doesn’t get much bigger for Canada also, as they face Trinidad and Tobago in the 2023-24 Concacaf Nations League Playoff.

The match takes place on Saturday 23 March at 8pm in Texas. The winner of the match will earn a spot in the CONCACAF tournament this summer. Should they progress to the tournament, they will be in Group A alongside Argentina, Peru and Chile. Canada would open the tournament against Argentina.

Canada are aiming to qualify for the Copa America for the first time.

Davor Zdravkovski

Another player who had hoped to work his way back into the international fold, Davor Zdravkovksi is back in the North Macedonia squad for the first time since September.

The midfielder has become a regular starter for Stuart Kettlewell and has caught the eye of his national side.

North Macedonia have a training camp based in Turkey, where they will be in friendly action twice.

They will face Moldova first on Friday 22 March at 2.30pm at the Mardan Sports Complex. Montenegro will be the opponents for their second match on Monday 25 March a the Mardan Sports Complex. Kick off is 5pm.

Should Zdravkovski play, he will earn his first cap for his country. Having not qualified for the Euros in Germany, North Macedonia will have another round of friendlies in June ahead of kicking off their Nations League campaign this September. They are in Group C alongside Armenia, Latvia and Faroe Islands.

Lennon Miller

Scotland’s Under 19 side are off to Italy for to kick off their UEFA Euro Under 19 qualifying campaign.

In Group E, Scotland will face all three of their group rivals Italy, Georgia and Czech Republic, with all games taking place at Stadio G. Teghil. It’s Italy up first on Wednesday 20 March at 2pm.

It’s an 11am start against Georgia on Saturday 23 March before rounding off the qualifiers against Czech Republic on Tuesday 26 March at 1.30pm.

The finals take place in Northern Ireland this summer, with the seven group winners qualifying for the finals.

Adam Devine

Adam Devine and Scotland’s Under 21’s have just the one match during this international window.

Kazakhstan travel to Paisley to face Scot Gemmill’s side in a EURO Under 21 qualifier. Five games into the group matches, Scotland are currently in second place. With three wins from their first five matches, they are 10 points, three off the top.

The match takes place Thursday 21 March at 7pm, at the SMiSA Stadium.

Motherwell’s optimistic route to the top-six was left undermined, with a frustrating display over Aberdeen distancing the Steelmen from Hibernian in sixth-place, as the visitors secured the three points at a rainswept Fir Park in a game overshadowed by refereeing inconsistency.

Leighton Clarkson fired the Dons ahead with the only goal of the contest midway through the first-half, latching onto the ball deep inside the Motherwell penalty area after Bojan Miovski’s close-range effort rattled the near post, with the midfielder placing the rebounded effort beyond the reach of Liam Kelly in the Motherwell goal.

Manager Stuart Kettlewell made one change from the historic victory over Rangers at Ibrox last weekend, with Sam Nicholson retuning to the starting XI and Davor Zdravkovski settling for a place on the bench.

Motherwell struggled to find their rhythm in the opening phases of play, with misplaced passes for both sides the key theme in the opening 15-minutes. Theo Bair sought to tee up teammate and strike-partner Jack Vale after breaking through the high Aberdeen backline, but the forward lost his footing as he attempted to find the Welshman in the visiting six-yard-box.

Skipper Liam Kelly was called into action moments later, with Miovski threatening the Motherwell defence with a powerful effort from the left-hand side of the box, but the Scotland international reacted superbly to parry the North Macedonian’s effort over the crossbar.

The decisive goal came midway through the first-half, with Clarkson reacting quickest to prod home Miovski’s drilled strike that ricocheted kindly off the post to the feet of the 22-year-old.

Lennon Miller restored Motherwell’s momentum shortly before the break, with a precise finish into the bottom-left corner, but the celebrations were drawn to a close, as following consultation with VAR; referee Willie Collum ruled against the equaliser for a suspected handball.

Motherwell rallied in the dying stages of the game in the desperate attempt to salvage a late equaliser, and looked destined to receive a spot-kick after the ball ricocheted off the arm of Graeme Shinne in a clear unnatural position, but despite briefly stopping play, the full-time whistle was blown in a frustrating and disappointing afternoon for the Steelmen.

Stuart Kettlewell gives his reaction to the 0-1 defeat to Aberdeen

• Nobody gets pass marks
• Baffling refereeing decisions
• International break

Bevis Mugabi is happy to have made his family proud once again by being named in the Ugandan national side for their matches later this month. 

The centre-back, who claims this has been a good run of games personally for him, says the team are looking after themselves, game by game, in the season run in.

Motherwell manager Stuart Kettlewell says in the world of football, life moves quickly and that the result against Rangers has now been put to bed and the team are fully focused on replicating performance levels this Saturday against Aberdeen in the cinch Premiership. 

Kettlewell provides an update on the fitness of Jon Obika, the recent call ups of Liam Kelly and Theo Bair. Bair was named in the Canadian side for the first time since 2020 earlier this week.

Davor Zdravkovski has been named in the North Macedonia squad for the first time since September.  

The midfielder has been absent in the October and November squad but makes his return off the back off his game time in recent months.

Since being subbed on at half time against Ross County at the start of December, Zdravkovski has been named in the starting 11 for the last 16 matches.

Zdravkovski is yet to make his debut for his country.

North Macedonia are travelling to Turkey for a warm weather camp, where they will play two matches in their time there.

They face Moldova on Friday 22 March before a match against Montenegro on Monday 25 March.

• North Macedonia v Moldova
• Friday 22 March
• Stadium TBC (Turkey)
• 3.30pm Kick Off 

• North Macedonia v Montenegro 
• Monday 25 March 
• Stadium TBC (Turkey)
• Kick off time TBC

Motherwell return to action on Saturday 16 March against Aberdeen at Fir Park. 

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 commentary only.

Kit Watch

We will be wearing the home kit for this match.

Injury News

Callum Slattery, Harry Paton and Barry Maguire remain missing for this match.

Andy Halliday made his return to action against Rangers at Ibrox. Calum Butcher missed that match and will be assessed this week.

Jon Obika has picked up an injury and will also be assessed.

Motherwell’s Fortunes

Motherwell had a free weekend having been knocked out the Scottish Cup.

That meant it’ll be two weeks since their last competitive match some Saturday. The Steelmen have won their last two matches. Going behind at Livingston, Blair Spittal, Sam Nicholson and Jack Vale scored to turn the game in the favour of the ‘Well.

Stuart Kettlewell’s side beat Rangers at Ibrox for the first time since 1997 in their last match, with Theo Bair scoring his 11th of the season and Dan Casey also getting on the scoresheet.

The result leaves Motherwell two points off of the top-six, prior to the midweek action. They are a point behind Dundee in seventh, with four goals to go until the split.

Last time out, Motherwell got themselves into an ideal situation at Pittodrie, finding themselves 3-0 up in the first half thanks to a double from Theo Bair and a first professional goal from Adam Devine. The Dons fought back to 3-3, with Harry Paton having a winning goal ruled out after a VAR check.

Opposition Report

It’s been an eventful time at Aberdeen. Interim manager Neil Warnock departed the club, having guided the Dons to the semi final of the Scottish Cup last weekend against Kilmarnock.

Warnock departs after 33 days spent in the Granite City. Their last win in the league came in Dingwall at the start of January.

Aberdeen are in tenth place, five points behind Motherwell. Bojan Miovski has had another successful season in front of goal, with the North Macedonian on 22 goals.

Jamie McGrath has 38 appearances in his first season for the club, he has nine goals and two assists in that time with his most recent strike coming against Kilmarnock at the weekend, as well as an assist.

Theo Bair has earned his spot back in the Canada squad. 

With 11 goals to his name this season, the striker has been in scintillating form for the Steelmen. In his last ten games, Bair has nine goals and three assists.

Bair has two senior international appearances to his name, scoring on his debut for his country. His last appearance came back in 2020 against Iceland.

Canada are in CONCAF Nations League playoff action, as they face Trinidad and Tobago on Saturday 23 March.

• Canada v Trinidad and Tobago
• Saturday 23 March
• Toyota Stadium
• 8pm Kick off 

Liam Kelly has been included in the Scotland squad. 

The final squad before EURO 2024, Scotland have two friendly matches in preparation for their tournament in Germany.

Kelly made his Scotland bow in Paris back in October, as he played the first 45 minutes against France.

Scotland travel to The Netherlands on Friday 22 March, before Northern Ireland are the visitors to Hampden Park.

• Netherlands v Scotland 
• Friday 22 March 
• Johan Cruijff ArenA
• 7.45pm Kick Off 

• Scotland v Northern Ireland 
• Tuesday 26 March 
• Hampden Park, Glasgow
• 7.45pm Kick Off 

Bevis Mugabi has been called up by Uganda for two Friendly matches in March.

The Cranes take on Comoros and Ghana and will be based in Morocco as they ramp up their preparations for their World Cup Qualifiers in June.

Comoros v Uganda, Friday 22nd March 2024.

Ghana v Uganda. Tuesday 26th March 2024.