Motherwell boss Stephen Robinson has given an update on the Well’s progress so far this pre-season, following a beneficial week in Northern Ireland.
The Steelmen played Crusaders and Linfield to help prepare for the 2019/20 campaign, with their next friendly coming against former winger Chris Humphrey’s Gretna 2008 side.
Motherwell’s next task will be against former star Humphrey’s Gretna. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/EuroFootball/Getty Images)
Robinson was pleased with how the week in his homeland turned out.
He told NTOF: “It’s been great. We’ve stayed in a brilliant hotel and had great training facilities. The opposition have been strong so it’s been a test. It’s always nice to come home too. Overall it was a good exercise for us in the past week and we’ll go back to Scotland stronger.”
Robinson highlighted some players who have stood out over the past week: “I think the new boys, as they always do, take different varying times to get their fitness levels back. I think Declan Gallagher and Liam Polworth have been very good.
Motherwell boss Robinson has been impressed with Gallagher in pre-season. (photo by David Young/Action Plus via Getty Images)
“Some of the boys that were already here have impressed. Liam Donnelly has came back in great shape and form, so has Barry Maguire.
“I’m pleased. Everyone will go at different rates to get their fitness and we’ve got a few more friendly games to go before we look to the first competitive game against Queen of the South.”
Motherwell transfer update from Robinson
Well boss Robinson has been very active in the window. The Steelmen have brought in six new players so far. They include Jake Carrol, Casper Sloth, Jermain Hylton, Chris Long and the previously mentioned Gallagher and Polworth.
Polworth was recruited from Inverness. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)
The Northern Irishman provided NTOF with a transfer update and some of his ambitions ahead of the new campaign.
Robinson said: “We need wide players. We’ve lost out on three that we thought we had over the line which is disappointing.
“In the two games we’ve had a lot of possession and we’re very good with the ball up until a certain point. I think we lack that little killer touch in the final third with pace and invention. That’s something I’m trying to find in the coming week.
The Well have missed out on plenty of wingers. (photo by Vagelis Georgariou/Action Plus via Getty Images)
“We have to stay in the league, budgets dictate that. We’ve got ambitions we’ll be quietly trying to achieve. First and foremost we’ll be trying to stay in the league and progress in the cups.”