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Twelve players have graduated from our youth academy to sign professional terms with the club.

At the back, 17-year-old New Zealand-born goalkeeper Lawton Green is joined by left-back Ewan Wilson and central defenders Sam Campbell, Logan Dunachie and Ali Gould.

In midfield, Adam MacDonald, Kian Speirs and Daniel Hunter all make the step up after rising through from the early age groups.

Forwards Corey O’Donnell and Cody McLeod featured for the first team in the friendly at Dumbarton on Saturday, and turn professional this summer alongside fellow attackers Muhammad Adam and Richard Tambwe.

“We’re delighted for all the boys stepping up and signing professional terms,” Motherwell’s academy director Steven Hammell said.

“We’re excited to see what they have to offer. Every single one of them have plenty of motivation as how their careers can now progress at this club.

“It’s over to them now to continue their development. With the coaching on offer and the people around them who can help them succeed, we’re hopeful they will now show the attitude and application to take their chance.”

The first week back for pre-season is always a challenging one.

The breaks are getting shorter, meaning players come back in a far better physical condition than in years gone by. Nevertheless, the first re-introduction to training is a physically demanding one.

With a Yo-Yo/beep test on day one, and plenty of running in amongst the ball work thereafter, the team are quickly getting up to speed ahead of the first competitive match on 14 July.

“We came back on Monday the 21st,” experienced midfielder Mark O’Hara explains. “It had obviously been four or five weeks off.

“On Monday we came in and we did the Yo-Yo test. Then we trained, after getting the legs back.

“Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday have been very tough football sessions with gym sessions in the morning.”

A pre-season encounter with Dumbarton followed on Saturday past, with a mix of 24 first-team players, youngsters and trialists all getting minutes.

“I think now it’s about getting as many minutes as we can into the legs,” added O’Hara.

“I think that will be six weeks without a game, so we’ll definitely relish that challenge.”

It has been a summer of change at Fir Park, with many players leaving as manager Graham Alexander looks to reshape his squad in his first full transfer window in charge.

Despite first arriving at the club on loan in September 2019, before making his move permanent a year later, O’Hara is now one of the more familiar faces at the club.

“I find myself as one of the longest-serving here,” he added. “It’s obviously a big change, a big turnover this summer.

“But it’s something that everyone is excited about and we’re looking forward to the future.”

Motherwell started early preparations for the season with a high-energy encounter at Dumbarton.

Despite a raft of chances in either half, the first fixture ended in a 1-0 loss, but with plenty gained in terms of fitness at the end of the first week of pre-season training.

Manager Graham Alexander fielded two separate XIs in either half, with 24 players getting minutes as a number of trialists and young prospects got the chance to impress.

Skipper for the first half Watt had the first of the early chances. Maguire beat two in midfield before slipping the striker in the box, but he dragged his shot inches wide of the right-hand post.

‘Well’s front three were heavily involved in the first 15, with Watt winning a number of flick-ons, Woolery causing problems down the right and young Corey O’Donnell linking up well on the left.

Motherwell should have been ahead with 25 minutes played.

O’Donnell drew applause after showing great skill to beat two opponents in the middle of the park, before feeding a perfectly-weighted ball through for the onrushing Woolery.

The new signing bore down on goal but saw his run ended by an alert home goalkeeper.

Watt saw a header from a corner sail over and Maguire saw a half-volley on the turn from 12 yards also end up skywards as the visitors went in at the break with plenty chances created, but no goals scored.

A complete change in personnel at the break gave more opportunities to players but it was the hosts who could have had the lead within three minutes.

A towering header from a corner saw substitute Scott Fox get down brilliantly to his left to tip the ball wide.

Motherwell soon settled, with the trialist striker causing problems with his hold-up play and endeavour in the box, and also firing narrowly wide early on.

With 15 minutes left, the trialist striker could have made a goalscoring impact. Played through by Lawless one-on-one, his attempt at a dinked finish over the onrushing goalkeeper was blocked.

Fox was again at the rescue late on to deny a Dumbarton trialist at feet, but the hosts would then grab the winner with three minutes to go.

Duthie got free down the left, advancing into the box before sending a driven ball to the back post to find Hopkirk who steered home from point-blank range.

Motherwell team (new youth intake marked as Y)

First half: Trialist, Johnston, Trialist, McGinley, Wilson (Y), Cornelius, Trialist, Maguire, Woolery, Watt, C O’Donnell (Y).

Second half: Fox, Trialist, Devine (Trialist), Dunachie (Y), Carroll, Trialist, Crawford, O’Hara (McLeod (Y)), Lawless, Trialist, Shields.

Subs not used: Morrison, Tambwe (Y).

Motherwell will start their 2021/22 pre-season programme with a trip to face Dumbarton.

The game on Saturday 26 June will be behind closed doors at the Rock, due to another event taking place at the stadium. Kick-off is at 12pm.

Graham Alexander’s men will then take on Millwall in a behind closed doors match at their training base at Oriam on 10 July respectively.

A further game is likely to be arranged for 3 July, with details available shortly.

Motherwell FC 2021/22 pre-season programme

Kaiyne Woolery is the latest acquisition ahead of the 2021/22 campaign.

The forward has signed on a three-year deal, joining after leaving Tranmere Rovers. The move is subject to international clearance.

“Kaiyne is a player I’ve admired for a few years now,” manager Graham Alexander said of his new acquisition.

“He’s always caused my teams problems with his pace and goal threat. I’m very happy to bring him to Motherwell.

“I believe his best years are ahead of him and we all look forward to working with him. I know he will help us improve our attacking threat.”

Wollery was a key figure in Tranmere’s play-off finish in League Two last season, netting 11 in 52 matches.

He previously was with Swindon Town, where he moved for a six-figure fee from Wigan Athletic.

The 26-year-old made his first professional appearances at Bolton Wanderers, and has also spent time on loan with Forest Green Rovers, Notts County and Tamworth.

Justin Amaluzor is our second summer signing.

The forward, who was last with Maidstone United in the National League, has put pen to paper on a one-year deal.

Amaluzor is already familiar with Fir Park, having spent time training with the squad in the latter stages of the 2020/21 campaign.

“Justin came in to train with us last season and immediately impressed us all with his enthusiasm and attacking ability,” manager Graham Alexander said of his new recruit.

“He’s hungry to succeed and we’re delighted to bring him in.

“We’re sure he’ll take this opportunity and be a valuable asset to our team.”

The 24-year-old netted seven goals in 23 league matches in 2019/20, as well as finding the net twice in 10 starts in the abandoned 2020/21 season.

Prior to his spell with Maidstone United, he featured for Braintree Town, Bognor Regis Town and Barnet.

Get the perfect Father’s Day gift with one of our limited edition 1991 Scottish Cup commemorative whisky bottles.

To mark 30 years since our Hampden success, the 10-year-old single malt has been matured in American oak casks and has a perfect balance of fruit notes with hints of honey and vanilla with a light touch of peat smoke.

There’s limited numbers left, so get yours by buying online for click and collect from Fir Park.

Expert tips on mental health awareness in the workplace are on offer during our main partner Paycare’s next free e-clinic.

Kerry B Mitchell, their wellbeing manager and mental health first aid trainer, will lead the online session from 10am to 11am on Wednesday 14 July.

She will be joined by long-standing HR professional Paul Owen and Zen Communications Managing Director Felicity Wingrove, to discuss how mental health awareness can enhance morale and wellbeing in the workplace, and how managers can put wellbeing at the heart of the working environment.

Attendees will also find out about recognising warning signs, approaching meaningful conversations around mental health, how to access further resources, and fostering conditions for good physical and mental health.

To book your free place on the Workplace Mental Health e-clinic, simply click here. For more information about the range of MHFA-Accredited Mental Health Training offered by Kerry and the Paycare Wellbeing team, visit paycare.org/wellbeing.

“It’s vital that team leaders and managers have an insight into wellbeing so they can recognise the signs and symptoms of mental ill-health, support their teams and signpost to relevant sources of assistance,” said Kerry.

“Life has been incredibly tough for all of us over the past 18 months. With stress, anxiety and burnout all on the rise, it’s more important than ever for organisations to be supportive of their employees’ needs. Plus, with happier and healthier employees, organisations enjoy higher levels of productivity, less presenteeism, and increased loyalty.”

Felicity added: “At Zen, having a good understanding of mental health enables us to fully support the team to flourish within their professional and personal lives.

“Creating a workplace culture where mental health can be discussed openly has been vital to our success as individuals and as an agency.

“Employee wellbeing is so much more than just a tick-box or a recruitment headline, there is a significant commercial benefit too: less sickness absence, better productivity and longer retention of staff being among the advantages of looking after staff health and happiness.

“We’ve been shortlisted for multiple employee wellbeing awards, partly because of the training we’ve undertaken with Kerry and Paycare – but more importantly, we’ve been able to be there for each other through the pandemic and recognise when individuals might need a little more support – and what that support might look like.”