IT’S OP TIME FOR MOULT AFTER HIS STAR TURN
No pain, no gain? If anything, Louis Moult may be lacking full fitness but he continues to prove to Motherwell fans that he is one of the club’s most important stars.
The striker played through the pain barrier in his final outing before he undergoes an operation tomorrow on a persistent groin injury.
He is expected to miss the Steelmen’s first four Premiership fixtures of the new season but gave a reminder of his worth in an excellent display as Motherwell picked up their first three points in Group F.
Alongside man-of-the-match Marvin Johnson, who scored the opener and set up his team’s other goals, Moult shone as he bagged a brilliant brace at Galabank.
With fellow striker Scott McDonald ruled out after straining a muscle in training, Moult more than played his part in a professional performance.
And while the 24-year-old admits it will be frustrating to miss out on the action as he goes under the knife, he cannot wait to return as Motherwell aim to shine in the new campaign.
‘I’ve been training but not to the high standard that I want to train at,’ said Englishman Moult.
‘I have been a little bit restricted because of the injury and that problem showed against Annan. I tried my hardest and thankfully I managed to get the two goals.
‘The manager spoke to me and told me there was a good chance I was going to be playing and then, when Scott McDonald had to pull out, I knew I would be starting. So I had to prepare myself to go through the pain barrier.
‘I have had the injury since before Christmas and it’s one of those that came on and just got worse and worse.
‘At the start, I was dealing with it and the adrenalin got me through but since we got back for pre-season, the pain hasn’t gone away and something had to be done about it.
‘I hoped over the summer break the rest would help it but when I came back, I felt it and I was gutted.
‘We have to deal with it now and four games of the season is not a massive amount.
‘So, hopefully when I come back I will be raring to go.
‘It restricted my movement and I couldn’t sprint as I would like to. It’s always in the back of my mind as well, so I just wanted it sorted.
‘The physio said I wouldn’t make it any worse by playing against Annan but if there had been, I probably wouldn’t have played.
‘It’s a bit annoying that the operation will disrupt my momentum but I think it would have been worse if I hadn’t scored against Annan.’
Johnson’s brilliant half-volley after 16 minutes put Motherwell ahead and, although Annan equalised on the stroke of half-time thanks to Rabin omar’s header, the Premiership side took control in the second half.
Moult met Johnson’s fine cross to chest home goal number two for the visitors on 61 minutes.
Both players combined again two minutes later as Moult raced through on goal to net his second.
‘I know Marv’s game and he knows mine — and I think that is why we can play so well together up front,’ said Moult. ‘We score goals and set each other up.
‘We are on the same wavelength and for my first, the minute he cuts inside I know where he is going to put it.
‘So I gambled by making my run to the back post and thankfully it paid off.
‘He is getting better and better, and he has a lot of confidence.
‘If he could add more goals to his game then he will be one hell of a player, but he has to keep that type of performance up now for the season.
‘Players who put the ball in the back of the net and get assists are always going to attract attention.
‘But he is very dedicated to Motherwell.’