Peter has the Hart for Steelmen return
Defender using pre-season to complete recovery
No- one has needed a preseason more than Motherwell defender Peter Hartley.
Having missed the second half of last season, including Well’s run to the Scottish Cup final, due to a foot injury aggravated during the winter break, Hartley is targeting working his way back into the Steelmen’s tough defence.
And having featured in Well’s 1-0 win over Crusaders on Saturday, the 30-year-old centre-back is planning to keep putting in the tough miles now to ensure he is in top condition when the new season kicks off on July 17 in the BetFred Cup. “It’s been very tough,” Hartley said. “A lot of running, a lot of team shape, a lot of touches on the ball. I’ve had pre-seasons five or six years ago when you didn’t get a ball out until two weeks in.
“I feel great. I’m pain free and doing everything, ticking the boxes, making sure I’m getting the match sharpness.
“I’m getting involved with absolutely everything.”
Despite missing the Scottish Cup final run through injury, Hartley is still hoping the club can replicate and improve their performances.
He thinks keeping the nucleus of last year’s squad is vital to making necessary improvements.
He said: “We achieved so much and become much closer as a team because of the success we had last season.
“It’s very important we kept the core together to drive the new boys forward when they come in and obviously set the standard.
“We are not planning on standing still. We are planning on moving forward and breaking into that top six.
“If you stand still you’re going to get overtook so we’ve got to keep moving forward and improving as a team.
“The only way to do that is to grow, get fitter and install the principles we’ve drilled into ourselves and we go one step further, either with winning a cup final or breaking into the top six.”
Hartley is also hoping the Steelmen’s latest recruits hit the ground running and help push Motherwell onto the next level this season.
He added: “The boys are quiet at the minute. We haven’t had that much time to get to know the personalities of the new boys yet but they seem like good lads and good players which is the most important thing.
“The new boys have bedded in well so long may it continue.”
We became much closer as a team because of the success we had last season Peter Hartley