CLARITY AND AMBER
Polworth so glad his gaffer’s staying and he’s back playing with Well mates as another European adventure beckons
He demands a lot from his players – you know exactly what is expected
LIAM POLWORTH ON PLAYING UNDER ROBINSON
LIAM POLWORTH is lapping up the sound of Stephen Robinson’s demands after a summer of speculation.
And the midfielder admits the fact Motherwell’s troops are all back together again to hear him fuelled excitement rather than a flurry of bad tackles.
Polworth and Co are stepping up their preparations for the campaign, having been given the government all-clear to resume training sessions as an entire unit from this week.
Leading the way is Robinson, who is ready to enter his fourth full season as Fir Park boss.
Despite interest from Northern Ireland over a job ex-Well gaffer Ian Baraclough has now been appointed to, as well as links to various clubs, Robinson remains firmly in place in Lanarkshire mapping out plans for 2020-21.
For Polworth, that news was another big boost after the relaxation of rules for training plus the announcement
their Europa
League campaign will get under way on August 27. Weeks of uncertainty on and off the park have given way to clarity.
And Polworth admits there is an air of excitement in the camp for the challenges in store with Robinson steering the ship.
The 25-year-old said: “When jobs become available you almost expect the gaffer’s name to be mentioned now given what he has done for Motherwell and what he’s done for players individually.
“We’re delighted to still have him here. He’s been massive for the club and I’m sure he’ll put together another strong season. “The main thing is he demands a lot from his players and you know exactly what is expected of you. Anything less and you are not going to be playing. “You know those exact demands and requirements to get into his team and that’s why the team has worked so well. “Everyone knows the situation and the style of football is really good too. Everyone almost buys into it even more because it’s enjoyable to play within. The gaffer saw what he had in his changing room and fitted the style around what he had. It worked really well. “When you look around and see the quality we have, it’s massive. It’s spread through the team and it was so nice to get the group back together. “That was the main thing, especially after everything that has happened. We had been back for a week without really being near anyone. We were just in small groups and it’s good to get everyone back together.
“On Monday, once we realised what was going on, we got back to normal. But no one was too bad in the tackling. We were just happy to see each other.
“Seriously, for the last nine or 10 years we have been used to the same structure day in and day out. You knew when you would have certain times off for holidays and just got on with it.
“All of a sudden it was all taken away and you were placed under all of these sorts of rules.
“You did enjoy having time to spend with the family but after a while everyone was itching to get back into playing football.”
As well as having their full-contact training return confirmed, players throughout the top flight now have targets in terms of playing matches.
For Well, that means here at home and on the continent.
Polworth and his team-mates are looking at an August 1 start for the Premiership, while UEFA have said their first qualifier will take place late next month with four rounds to negotiate to reach the group stage.
Having fought superbly to clinch their spot in continental competition, he admits it’s an exciting prospect. Polworth was part of the Inverness Caley Thistle squad that took on Astra Giurgiu in the Europa League five years ago after John Hughes’ side had won the Scottish Cup.
He said: “Seeing the European dates on top of the date for the league maybe starting was a boost. Once you have dates, it gives you something to aim for.
“It’s something to look forward to and work towards. Maybe the hardest part for a lot of people at the beginning of the situation was not knowing.
“You were keeping your fitness up. But there was a knowledge you weren’t going to get back straight away, so you were almost running without real hope. When you know things are going to happen and you get that date it gives you something to plan for.
“Seeing the European dates was a massive moment and we just hope fans will be able to be in the stadium when the games are played now because it is something you want to experience with them.
“You want everyone involved because it took a lot of hard work from everyone to get into that special position.
“I was involved when we (Inverness) went to Romania but didn’t actually play, so it’s something I am excited about possibly being involved with.”