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From our pre-season base in Ireland, defender Cédric Kipré and new midfielder Alex Rodríguez Gorrín have a go at understanding some Scottish humour by reading out some funny tweets.

The 2017/18 season provided plenty cause to be optimistic about what’s being built at Motherwell, with the team having reached both national cup finals and narrowly missed out on a top six finish.

With the core of the group retained for the new campaign, and further depth added to the squad in key positions, manager Stephen Robinson’s decision to take the team back to Carton House in Ireland for pre-season training was very much about trying to set the same standards again.

Defender Peter Hartley wasn’t a Motherwell player this time 12 months ago, but he quickly became aware of the level expected.

A pivotal figure in the backline before injury curtailed his season last year, the Englishman says the return across the Irish Sea is about more than simply trying to replicate what’s gone before. Instead, he says, it’s about raising standards further and finding another level.

“We’re not planning on standing still,” he said. “We are planning on moving forward and breaking into the top six.

If you stand still, you’ll get overtaken. We have to improve. The only way to do that is to grow, get fitter and instil the principles again.

“If we do that, the target is to win a cup final this time, or get into the top six.”

A foot injury picked up in January ruled the former Plymouth Argyle man out for several months at the start of 2018.

Having maintained his status as an important figure behind the scenes during his layoff, Hartley says he’s now completely ready to impose himself again on the field.

“I feel great,” he said. “I am pain free. I am making sure I am getting my match sharpness when I can and getting involved with practically everything.”

Barry Maguire has extended his stay with Motherwell for the 2018/19 season.

The central defender, who made his first team debut towards the end of last campaign, has signed a new one-year deal.

Maguire, 20, has made three appearances in claret and amber to date.

“I am delighted to be staying with the club,” he said after signing on. “I got a taste of first team football last season and felt I handled it well.

”My goal now is to try and stay in the manager’s thoughts and get into the team.”

Manager Stephen Robinson added: “Barry has shown he has the ability to step up to the first team and give us further options at centre back.”

”We are pleased he is staying on and hope we can keep pushing him to fulfil his potential.”

Our pre-season friendly away to Darlington has been changed to a 3pm kick off.

The game will still be played on Sunday, 8 July at the Quakers’ Blackwell Meadows ground.

For 2018/19, we are going fully claret and amber with our home and away kits.

Motherwell’s fifth campaign with Italian manufacturers Macron sees the classic, predominantly amber home jersey complemented by white shorts.

Our away jersey is a stylish, all claret number with amber flashes on the shirt and shorts, and fully amber socks.

You can pre-order them online right now via our online store.

Home shirts will be fully on sale and available from 4 July. A date for the release of our away kit will be confirmed shortly.

Our squad numbers for the 2018/19 season have been confirmed, with a host of players taking up new jerseys for the campaign ahead.

Captain Carl McHugh makes the switch to number four, with Allan Campbell stepping up to take on the club’s number eight jersey.

Cédric Kipré has been handed the number five jersey, while Liam Grimshaw, George Newell and Gaël Bigirimana move to numbers 15, 16 and 17 respectively.

Goalkeeper Rohan Ferguson, returning from his loan spell at Airdrieonians, will wear number 13.

Our new intake of Under 18 professionals have also been allocated squad numbers for the season.

MOTHERWELL FC SQUAD NUMBERS FOR 2018/19

Spanish midfielder Alejandro Rodríguez Gorrín is Motherwell FC’s fifth signing of the summer transfer window.

The 24-year-old, who counts Sunderland, Wellington Phoenix, Boavista and Sepsi OSK amongst his former teams, has signed an initial one-year deal with the club.

Alex came close to joining the Steelmen in January, training with the squad at their winter training camp in Tenerife, but a deal to move to Romania was all but completed and he made the move there.

“I like both parts of the game,” he said on his arrival at Fir Park. “I like to tackle and be aggressive, but I like to have the ball as well.

“I know in Scotland you like to attack, and it’s something I can do as well.

“Short term, I want to adjust to a new league and it will be different, maybe more physical. Then I’ll see after that. I will take it step by step, get pre-season under my belt and then have a good season.”

The Canary Islander came through the youth ranks at Sunderland, where he found himself teammates with current ‘Well stopper Trevor Carson.

He captained the youth team at the Stadium of Light, but could never break into the then-English Premier League side’s first team.

He left Sunderland in 2014 and moved across the world to sign with New Zealand-based, A-League club Wellington Phoenix.

He spent three seasons with the Nix, clocking up 72 appearances, before a move to Portuguese side Boavista last summer. However, his stay in Oporto only lasted six months before moving to Romania with Transylvanian side Asociația Club Sportiv Sepsi OSK Sfântu Gheorghe.

“We’ve been working to get Alex for a while now, so we are pleased to welcome him to the club,” ‘Well boss Stephen Robinson added.

“We got to see him first hand with the squad when we were in Tenerife and were really keen to sign him if the opportunity arose.

“He will give us real options in the middle of the pitch, where we now have a lot of competition for places. He can break up the play, take ownership of the ball and has a good range of passing.”

Alex will wear squad number 23 in the forthcoming 2018/2019 season.

Aaron Taylor-Sinclair is the latest addition to the Motherwell squad for the 2018/19 season.

The left back has joined up with Stephen Robinson’s side after leaving Plymouth Argyle at the end of last campaign.

Taylor-Sinclair is best known for his previous spell in Scotland with Partick Thistle, with his standout performances bringing him to the attentions of a number of top clubs, and to the brink of a Scotland call-up, before Wigan Athletic won the fight for his signature in 2014.

“The manager got in touch with me early, straight after the season finished.” said the 27-year-old, who has signed a one-year deal.

“When that happens, you feel wanted as a player. I’m delighted to come here.”

Taylor-Sinclair moved from Wigan to Doncaster Rovers in 2015, making over 50 appearances before switching to Plymouth Argyle.

Under former ‘Well player Derek Adams, the Scotsman played a further 29 games but says he’s heading back to the Ladbrokes Premiership looking to nail down a regular starting berth.

“I just want to get games under my belt and get going,” he added. “The manager has put his trust in me and I want to perform.”

Taylor-Sinclair will wear the number three jersey in 2018/19. He will join up with his new team mates when they return to pre-season training on Wednesday.

“We’re delighted to have secured Aaron’s services,” manager Stephen Robinson added.

“He has an excellent pedigree, both here in the top flight and at a good level in England. His style of play fits perfectly into how we try to approach the game and we’re looking forward to working with him.”

Adults will be able to watch every Motherwell match in the 2018/19 Betfred Cup group stage for £12 per game.

After reaching agreement amongst our four opponents, a flat fee will be charged for the early season games.

Concessions will be able to gain entry for just £6.

Motherwell kick off their campaign with a home tie with Edinburgh City on Tuesday, 17 July.

A trip to Stranraer follows on Saturday, 21 July, before the visit of Queen of the South to Fir Park three days later.

The group stage ends with a televised game away to fellow Lanarkshire club Clyde on Saturday, 28 July.

Information on buying tickets in advance will be announced shortly. Pay at the gate will also be available.

Ahead of the 2018/19 campaign, Craig Tanner discusses his return to fitness as he steps up his rehab.