88-minute delight overshadows O’donnells’ cramp and migraine

By the end of his involvement, Stephen O’donnell was suffering from cramp and conceded that he could feel a migraine coming on. But his exhaustion could not mask his delight at getting through his first match in five months.

Thrown in only days after signing for Motherwell on a shortterm deal, the Scotland international right back said he was glad his manager, had not informed him he was playing until Saturday morning as he may not have slept the night before.

“I was worried about how long I’d last,” said O’donnell, pictured. “The last thing you want to do is go in and let the manager or the boys down. I was thinking ‘get to halftime’ then after that we’d see where we are. Usually in pre-season you’d go 45 minutes, an hour and then 90 minutes. I didn’t have that luxury.”

Still weighing up his options as the term got underway, he said he reached the stage where he knew he had to get back playing

“I’d had a few offers and there had been talk of England, but nothing was right for me or my family. So I was thinking that if I kept knocking things back and telling people I wasn’t sure, people might fill their squads.

“I’m relatively happy to get through 88 minutes. For my first game in five months, that’s not bad! I was delighted I lasted as long. Maybe a wee bit disappointed I didn’t complete the full 90 once I’d gone that far but I just didn’t want to cost the team if something had gone. I cramped up my calf early in the game, then my hammy’s cramped. I knew that if something went again it could cost a goal or put me out for a couple of weeks. But I will hopefully be fighting fit for Saturday.”