Tait: Our young Steelmen can go all the way
Richard Tait has good and bad news for the young players who’re inspiring a Motherwell revival.
The 29-year-old believes they have an amazing chance to emulate a former team-mate by making it to the very top.
But he’s also seen many rising stars waste their talent and drift out of the game.
His side are hoping to make it six consecutive league victories when they face Hearts at home this afternoon.
Teenagers Jake Hastie and David Turnbull, along with 20-year-old Allan Campbell, have played a huge part in that fine form.
Tait reckons the success of Bournemouth and England’s Callum Wilson should act as inspiration to the young men at Fir Park.
He said: “I’ve played with a few lads who’ve gone on to play in the Premier League.
“Callum came on loan to Tamworth from Coventry and he was no different to the lads we’ve got here. He was no better, no worse.
“Now look at him – Chelsea were willing to buy him for £50 million at one point.
“Going on loan was really good for him. It was Conference football, going to some pretty horrible places, and not the nicest football in the world either.
“The young lads here are in a fantastic position to play football at the highest level in this country, and then progress to the next level.
“It’s a great stage to play on. They’re lucky to be at a club like Motherwell.
“Jake Hastie went out on loan to Alloa this season. That’s a big thing for young lads like him. They go out there and grow up a bit.
“He’s obviously kicked on as a player because he’s maybe seen where he could be if he doesn’t put the hard work in.
“Part-time is only one division away in this country. He’s seen it, come back, taken his wake-up call and been fantastic.
“I’ve seen so many guys with talent just fizzle out.
“It’s a mentally challenging game, you get so many knockbacks.
“But it’s about keeping going and believing in yourself. I’ve done that and got to this stage, something you think is maybe out of reach down south.
“I saw guys with more talent than Wilson, great players, but their attitude wasn’t there to match their ability.”
Hard work has got Tait to a level where he’s being spoken about as a possible Scotland right-back.
Kilmarnock’s Stephen O’Donnell has picked up six caps and Tait hopes a good run by Motherwell can boost his claim.
He went on: “It’s nice to see players who are at similar clubs to Motherwell being picked.
“It obviously shows the door is open to players like myself.
“Stephen has gone in there and taken his chance. Given that opportunity, I definitely believe I would do a similar job.
“Possibly, the team doing well helps. It’s easier for managers to pick players in teams who are higher up the league, and he’s probably benefited from that.”