SINGLE MOULT? MAKE IT A DOUBLE
Boss toasts Louis’ eventual return to Steelmen
STEVEN HAMMELL got his man yesterday as Louis Moult checked back into Fir Park after a frantic end to the transfer window.
The Motherwell boss had burned the midnight oil in an attempt to get Moult over the line but cross-border paperwork meant the deadline came and went without getting the deal done.
It took until late afternoon yesterday before a season-long move for the Burton Albion striker was completed, with loan deals having an extended deadline.
Moult netted 50 goals in 98 games in his first spell with Motherwell before heading to Preston in 2018.
And Hammell, who played with Moult, is delighted to get him in for the season.
“To get Louis on board is a major coup,” he said. “I played alongside Louis and I am fully aware of what he is capable of and what he will bring to this team.
“I’m excited to see what he has to offer this season.”
Motherwell defender Ricki Lamie was also delighted with the late addition and expects a goal return to follow.
“At every level of football every team is looking to bring in a goalscorer and a quality player,” Lamie said.
“Louis is a proven scorer and he knows Scottish football so he doesn’t need time to settle.
“He is an experienced figure to add to the squad and you can’t get too many of them.
“We have healthy competition for the attacking areas and that’s what you want.
“You want to spread the goals throughout the team and with the quality we have from dead balls, hopefully we can grab a few.
“We are an attacking threat and that’s a positive.”
Hammell, meanwhile, revealed that his first day as manager on the final day of a transfer window would have made for an enthralling fly-on-the-wall documentary.
“It was a stressful day, we had a lot of staff but it would have been enjoyable to watch if you had the cameras rolling,” he said. “There was plenty of coffee, that’s for sure and it was a struggle to keep the eyes open.
“I was relaxed about it as I was happy with what we had anyway.
“I would rather add one or two of real quality than four or five decent players.”
After finalising his transfer business Hammell is keen to get a result against Dundee United while appreciating the predicament of stand-in boss Liam Fox.
“It’s difficult being the caretaker but I am sure Liam will be comfortable with being in charge,” he said. “He is an experienced coach and knows what he is doing. We are expecting a tough game as they have a lot of good players.
“They got a good win over Livingston and that will give them a bounce.
“We know they will get a reaction and they will want to get a bit of momentum.”