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On-loan Walsall winger Steve Jones returned to training today after a month on the sidelines vowing to win back his place in the first-team.

The 34-year-old tweaked a hamstring against Rangers back in February, stalling what looked like a promising start to his Motherwell career.

However, after coming through a tough session at Dalziel Park today, Jones has one eye on this Sunday’s Scottish Cup Quarter Final at Tannadice.

“It’s pleasing to be back after a frustrating time with injury,” the 29 times capped Northern Irish winger said.

“It’s a long few weeks when you are rehabbing on your own in the gym, but I trained for the first time today and it felt good. If things are as positive in the next few days, I am hoping to be in contention for the Dundee Utd game on Sunday.

“To get an injury when you are a professional footballer is terrible but picking one up so soon after joining a new team is horrible luck. But I am back up and running now and I am keen to get back into the team and try and have an impact in the last ten games of the season. I’m just itching to kick the ball again!”

Jones feels he has some unfinished business in Cup competitions this year after suffering mixed emotions so soon into his spell at Fir Park.

He was a late substitute in the Co-operative Insurance Cup Semi Final when Rangers scraped past Stuart McCall’s men thanks to a late goal from Steven Naismith.

However, he was on the score sheet at Stranraer, helping ‘Well book their place in this round, and he hopes he can repeat that feat this weekend.

“I may only make the bench but if that is the case, then maybe I’ll get on and score the winner,” he smiled.

“But seriously, it’s a big game for us. I know what the Scottish Cup means to the fans and the people of Motherwell. If we perform to the best of our capabilities, I think we can win. Dundee Utd are a good side and we’ll need to be at our best but we are going there looking to progress.

“Those ten minutes at Hampden gave me a taste of it and I am desperate to get back there.”

Motherwell FC are delighted to announce that the Centenary Suite will be open from 11am this Sunday for an afternoon of live Scottish Cup action.

If you’ve no plans to travel to Tannadice, why not bring the family along to join Dougie Arnott and guests for live TV coverage of our match versus Dundee Utd – a re-run of that famous day in May twenty years ago.

The Centenary Suite will remain open for business as we wait (in collective hope) for the players’ triumphant return to Fir Park.

Our Super Sunday continues into the night with Karaoke fun for all the family.

For more information, contact us on 01698 338008.

Motherwell travel to Tannadice this Sunday hopeful of booking a place in the Scottish Cup Semi Final.

It will be the fourth of possibly six games between the sides this campaign after ‘Well dispatched of Peter Houston’s men in the Quarter Finals of the Co-operative Insurance Cup.

However, with the Arabs getting back to full strength and returning to full form, Sunday will prove an altogether tougher encounter.

The game, live on Sky Sports, will kick-off at 1.15pm with tickets, available on the turnstile, priced at:

• Concessions are listed as Under 18s, Over 60s and full time students with a valid matriculation card.
• Fans who require wheelchair access should contact Elaine MacDonald at the club on 01698 338009 or email tickets@motherwellfc.co.uk.

SUPPORTERS ASSOCIATION COACHES

CENTRAL BRANCH

The bus for Dundee will leave the Bentley Hotel at 10.45am. Phone Jim on (01698) 299650 or e-mail Christopher on christopher_hutton@btinternet.com.

WISHAW BRANCH

The Wisahw bus to Tannadice on 13th March will leave at 10.45am. To book seats please call Anne on 01698470601 or email andrew.sim48@btinternet.com.

BELLSHILL & DISTRICT BRANCH

The Dundee Utd bus will pick up at the Fir Park Club, Motherwell at 8.40am then the Carousel Bar, Bellshill at 8.50pm and finally the Holytown War Monument at 8.55am. To book seats, contact Brian Worton on 07763 061821 or after 6pm on (01698) 747644.

TRAVEL

BY CAR

The stadium is located less than 200 yards from Dens Park, home of their city rivals Dundee, and is well signposted for travelling fans.

Head towards Perth on the A9 and then follow the A90 into Dundee, leaving at the junction with the B960 to turn right on to Clepington Road (signposted Football traffic).

Continue along Clepington Road for one mile and go through a roundabout before turning right on Arklay Street. The stadium will be clearly visible on the right.

Street parking is available on numerous streets around the ground.

BY BUS

Several operators run buses to Dundee, departing every hour from Buchanan Station in Glasgow city centre.

Further information and timetables are available online at www.citylink.co.uk.

BY TRAIN

Dundee station is over two miles away from the ground, although frequent bus services run throughout the city.

Further information and timetables are available online at www.scotrail.co.uk.

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Motherwell U19s came back from a goal down to win 2-1 against Inverness CT at Dingwall this afternoon.

An own-goal from Ewan Murray gave Inverness the lead and it looked as if they would hold out for all three points. However, two goals in the last two minutes, both from Steve Howarth, swung things in Motherwell’s favour.

The result moves ‘Well joint with Hibs in fifth place, although the Easter Road club have the better goal difference.

Full report to follow…

Referee for Sunday’s Scottish Cup Quarter Final clash with Dundee Utd at Tannadice is Calum Murray.

Murray will be handling his second ‘Well game of the current campaign after previously overseeing the 1-0 defeat at McDiarmid Park in January.

Saints won that night courtesy of a controversial penalty award when Stephen Craigan was adjudged to have clashed with Michael Duberry inside the area; Liam Craig dispatched the resulting kick from the spot.

Last season, he was the man in the middle for the 1-1 draw with Rangers; Tom Hateley netting a sensational equaliser for the Steelmen. That game was also marred by a controversial call when Ross Forbes’ goal was somehow disallowed for offside despite television pictures showing the midfielder to be at least two yards onside.

He also took charge of the 3-2 home defeat by Sunday’s opponents Dundee Utd in April last year when a John Sutton double wasn’t enough to give ‘Well the points.

His overall record in charge of the Steelmen is fairly decent. Of the fourteen games he has taken charge of, Motherwell have won seven, drawn two and lost five. The Fir Parkers have scored nineteen whilst seventeen have hit the back of the ‘Well net.

39 players have seen yellow on those fourteen matches, 21 of which were shown to a player wearing Claret and Amber. Only one player has been sent for an early bath, Bob Malcolm in the famous 1-0 win over Celtic back in early 2008.

Calum will be ably assisted by Brian McGarry and Charlie Smith with Craig Charleston on fourth official duties.

Motherwell FC have helped kick off Scotland’s Census 2011 which takes place on Sunday 27 March this year.

Stephen Craigan (club captain), Keith Lasley and youngster Dario Quinn joined census district manager Louis Howson at the club’s Fir Park ground to highlight that everyone’s included in the census and that its results help deliver billions of pounds worth of services – including future sports facilities. 

More than 2.5 million questionnaires for Scotland’s biggest population survey are now being delivered to households across the country ahead of census day later this month.

All enumerators (census takers) who will be delivering the census questionnaires to homes in North and South Lanarkshire have been security checked and have signed an undertaking to protect the privacy of the information on the questionnaires. They will also all carry official photographic identification. Anyone with doubts about their authenticity can contact the census helpline on 0300 123 1702.

Registrar General for Scotland, Duncan Macniven, is responsible for organising the census.

He said: “Like football, the census covers Scotland nationally and locally – everyone is included. For many young people – and people from the rest of the world who have made Scotland their home, such as many of the SPL’s football stars – 2011 is the first time that they have been responsible for filling in a census questionnaire.  This month, they have their chance to make a permanent mark on Scotland.

“The census asks questions that help the government, local authorities and businesses target billions of pounds of public money on services, including health, housing and leisure facilities. Personal information is kept confidential for 100 years.

“There are 13 questions about the household and up to 35 questions for each person. Most of the census questions are multiple choice and can be answered by simply ticking a box. It takes about 10 minutes to complete per person, but its effects will last for a decade.”

Chief Executive of Motherwell FC, Leeann Dempster said:  “Motherwell Football Club is delighted to assist in any way we can with raising awareness of the 2011 census. The information provided in the census, which is the only reliable medium for measuring population, will go a long way to helping the government, local authorities and businesses plan and provide a wide range of public services including health, housing, transport and education.

“It is vital you take part on census day at the end of the month, 27 March 2011.”

Local census regional manager Kerr McConnell added: “The census is hugely significant as its results help provide a “big picture” of Scotland in 2011 and will also help with the crucial delivery of future services and resources for North and South Lanarkshire.

“It is important for the future development of North and South Lanarkshire as it will provide the facts and figures required to effectively plan ahead and give the communities across  North and South Lanarkshire what they need, now and in future years to come.’’

For further information on Scotland’s Census visit www.scotlandscensus.gov.uk.

‘Well’s next Scottish Cup opponents are holders Dundee United at Tannadice in the quarter-finals next Sunday, 13th March. 

Stuart McCall’s men will be hoping to go one step further and into the semis at Hampden, and thanks to Carling, the official beer of the Scottish Cup, you can be there for free to cheer us on.

Carling have given us a pair of Motherwell tickets to give away for the match, for your chance to win simply tell us:

Q. Who did Motherwell defeat in the last round of the Scottish Cup?

Email your answer, along with your name, address, telephone number and date of birth to alysongray@thesportsbusiness.co.uk. 

Competition closes on Wednesday 9th March at 12noon, and the winner will be contacted by telephone that afternoon.

Terms & Conditions:

• Over 18s only
• Travel is not included

The club’s official eBay store is full of claret and amber goodies you won’t find anywhere else!

From signed merchandise to hospitality packages and money can’t buy experiences, fans have the chance to get their hands on some exclusive Motherwell memorabilia.

Previous auctions have included match-worn shirts, signed footballs, programmes, tickets, and even sponsor rights. Right now, we have Motherwell FC vs Manchester United X1 Programme, Stephen Craigan’s match worn Co-operative Insurance Cup Semi Final top, Steven Saunders’ “Poppy” shirt from the match against Hibs earlier this season, a signed 1991 Scottish Cup Final programme as well as last year’s Canterbury GK and away tops.

CLICK HERE to browse everything at our official eBay store.

The club also run charity auctions from time to time where all proceeds go towards one of the many local charities we support.

If you wish to donate an item please contact us on 01698 333 333 or email bid@motherwellfc.co.uk.

Standard eBay terms and conditions apply to any purchases made on eBay. All items subject are to availability. Happy bidding!

‘Well boss Stuart McCall couldn’t hide his frustration as ‘Well slumped to a miserable 3-0 defeat at the Caledonian Stadium this afternoon.

The Steelmen have struggled for consistency for most of the season and, frustratingly, that was the case again today as the Fir Park men failed to build on last weekend’s excellent win over Celtic.

McCall was visibly disappointed after the match and was left scratching his head after the painful defeat.

“We were so poor at the beginning of the game, with our possession of the ball,” McCall admitted.

“The weather was nice, the pitch seemed in good condition and was there to play football and we played the shape we had at Aberdeen to get the players onto the ball and to get the ball into the right areas of the park.

“But our possession of the ball was really poor. Then, in the second half, we lost two soft goals. From beginning to end, from back to front, we were so sub-standard.”

It remains one of the mysteries of football as to why a team can play so well one week, yet fail to turn up the following.

Inconsistency plagues most teams in the SPL, out with the Old Firm, and the Motherwell boss struggled to explain the difference between last Sunday and this afternoon.

Questioned as to what Motherwell fans would be asking themselves on the way home from the Caledonian Stadium, McCall boomed, “It’s not only Motherwell fans asking that, I have asked the players exactly the same and the players are asking themselves that.

“I could not believe that was the same side that confidently played well against Celtic.”

“Good players are consistent players. We prepared exactly the same, the boys knew what was at stake; we could really cement our place in the top six with a victory.

“We are still in there fighting and we still have the objective of finishing in the top six. It was not good enough, but you have got to give credit to Inverness, who played well.

“They were well warned about the reaction Terry would be getting from his team after two defeats. From everyone being at the top of their game, everyone was far below. The only positive is that we have four games to make sure we are in the top six. We are in there fighting with a lot of teams.”

Pictures from the 3-0 defeat by Inverness Caley Thistle in the Clydesdale Bank Premier League at The Caledonian Stadium.

These action shots and more are available to buy online at www.motherwellpics.com.

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