McInnes so aware that Moult is the man to make the difference
DEREK McINNES doesn’t need any education on the biggest threat to ambitions of reaching another Betfred Cup semifinal. He tried to buy him.
Had Motherwell’s financial demands proven a little more pliable, Louis Moult would be spearheading Aberdeen tomorrow.
The Pittodrie club saw a bid for the striker – worth around £350,000 — rejected back in July. Finally securing long-standing target Stevie May provided ample compensation for McInnes, but the value of Motherwell retaining Moult can hardly be overstated.
Five goals from his last four appearances provide the headline statistic. Moult’s incision has been a key factor in Stephen Robinson’s side amassing 10 Premiership points from the last 12 available.
Saturday provided the clearest example. A close-range header and a crisp drive from 20 yards lifted Motherwell from 2-0 to parity at Easter Road.
The 25-year-old’s overall record since signing for Motherwell in 2015 now reads as 35 goals in 71 league starts. Or one every two games. Very rarely does he simply add some sheen to a result already secured. Moult’s goals mean points. That is the primary reason the Fir Park club decided not to sell despite this star asset entering the final 12 months of his contract.
In terms of top-flight safety and position prize money, Moult’s worth balances the potential absence of a transfer fee — especially when a large chunk of that income would go to former owner Les Hutchison as part of the agreement that took the club into fan control.
Now come two Fir Park meetings with his former suitors in the space of three days, as the quarter-final is followed by a league clash on Sunday lunchtime. McInnes (below, right)will have to plan to muzzle Moult in both.
‘We made an enquiry and put an offer in for him but it fell short of what Motherwell were looking for then we moved on,’ said the Aberdeen boss yesterday.
‘Motherwell are to be commended for fighting hard to keep hold of him as he is very important for them.
‘He is key to the way they want to play the game. They engage their centre-forwards really quickly then get forward and support with good fitness and physicality about them.
‘In their front two, and especially with Moult, they have a real goalscoring threat.’
Former Motherwell striker Owen Coyle, who managed McInnes at St Johnstone, is no less a fan of Moult. He sees a player determined to maximise his options for the future.
‘It is tremendous compliment in itself that a club like Aberdeen and a manager like Derek had a very high level of interest in him,’ said Coyle. ‘But for Moult now, the key thing is obviously what he keeps bringing to Motherwell. If he maintains his level, then there will be a whole load of teams after him because of his talent and the contractual situation.
‘Everybody craves a goalscorer. Louis has come up to Scotland and joined an outstanding club for him in Motherwell. But I do believe he is capable of scoring goals at different levels.
‘Like anything else, you only know exactly where when someone is given a chance.
‘He is playing at the top of his confidence. You look at his record, the statistics, and it is terrific. But there is more to him than just a reliance solely on goals. I like his work for the team.
‘He creates chances for himself with his movement and is a clever player. He is not the type you would say isn’t contributing if he is not scoring goals.
‘That’s why Motherwell have done very well to keep hold of him. They understand how that may play out contractually and I think they should be applauded for still hanging onto him.
‘In not accepting what finance was offered, Motherwell should know they will get the very best out of him if he wants to go and play at bigger clubs, with all due respect. He has to keep playing well to make that interest in him sustainable.’
Guided by head of recruitment Martin Foyle, the Fir Park club have proven adept at mining the lower reaches of English football for gems to be polished.
Moult has a sliver of top-flight experience south of the border. A product of the youth academy at Stoke City — the club he grew up supporting — he made a substitute appearance against Burnley in 2010.
The issue was having Kenwyne Jones, Jon Walters and Eidur Gudjohnsen among the players in front of him. Dropping down to Conference level with Nuneaton Town and Wrexham proved he could be prolific.
Joining Motherwell then raised his profile to another level.
Moult is not the only one who has benefited in such a way. The possibility of losing him for nothing is offset by recent profits from selling Marvin Johnson and Ben Heneghan back to England.
‘I think Scottish clubs, not just Motherwell, are now a huge attraction for young English players,’ said Coyle. ‘Motherwell have done exceptionally well in that market. ‘You see it this summer with Ben Heneghan going to Sheffield United.’