Gomis is back in the picture
MORGARO GOMIS last night vowed to get his career back on track at Motherwell after mysteriously falling out of the picture and becoming unhappy at Hearts.
A mainstay of the Tynecastle side that streaked to the Scottish Championship title last season under Robbie Neilson, t he 30- year- old was shortlisted as PFA Scotland Player of the Year for the second tier.
After starting the Premiership season strongly, however, he dropped out of the high-flying Hearts team and has not featured since a 3-2 home win over Dundee United on December 30.
Recently, Arnaud Djoum, Miguel Pallardo and Prince Buaben have been picked in midfield.
Then, when former Scotland international midfielder Don Cowie moved to Tynecastle yesterday after leaving Wigan, the writing was on the wall for Gomis.
After Motherwell declared their interest, a head-to-head with Neilson left the former Senegal international in no doubt it would be best if he went out on a surprise loan to Fir Park.
‘I was happy last season at Hearts when we won the league but things changed this season,’ said Gomis, who still has 18 months left on his contract at Tynecastle.
‘I don’t know why. You’d need to ask them what changed. I’m fit and I just want to play. But I wasn’t getting a game for a few months.
‘But that’s football. Anything can change. You just get on with things.
‘I only found out on Sunday that Motherwell wanted to take me on loan till the end of the season.
‘So I had a chat with the manager at Hearts and he told me to come here and talk to Motherwell. After that conversation, I knew it was better for me to come here to play as much as I can.
‘Motherwell wanted me, so I thought: “Why not?”
‘If I can come and play and help the club, it will be good. So that’s what I did and I am happy to sign until the end of the season.’ Gomis, who won the Scottish Cup at Dundee United in 2010, fell out of favour during his time at Birmingham City but fought to win his place back.
However, he could not envisage a si milar story unfolding at Hearts and decided t o accept Mark McGhee’s offer.
He is now in line to make his debut for the Premiership’s ninth-placed club at 10th-placed Partick Thistle tonight.
‘In my second season at Birmingham City, I wasn’t part of the manager’s plans for the first six months and he told me I could leave,’ said Gomis.
‘But I told him I was good enough and I wanted to stay. I managed to fight for my place and won my place back for the second part of the season.
‘But at Hearts, it is different. I was in the team at the start of the season and then I found myself out of the team, so I’m here at Motherwell to enjoy playing football again.
‘Motherwell have a good squad and good players. They work really hard for each other and they have two good, fast wingers.
‘I want to help the club and myself to get back on track.
‘I don’t see why Motherwell can’t move up the league. Hopefully, I can help and together we can get into the top six. But it won’t be easy.’
McGhee was delighted to land the no-nonsense midfielder.
‘I’ve been aware of Morgaro Gomis since his Dundee United days,’ said the Fir Park boss. ‘What you get with him is exactly what you see. There are no surprises with him and what he brings is what we need.
‘ We are short of central midfielders. Keith Lasley is at the far end of his career. He’s doing brilliantly, but he needs support as well.
‘ We needed an extra midfielder to back Lasley up and give us options. So I’m pleased to get Morgaro.’
McGhee, meanwhile, is set to offer James McFadden an extended deal after t he former Scotland international f orward’s proposed move to MLS Philadelphia Union collapsed.
‘Faddy’s welcome to stay,’ said McGhee.
‘ The Philadelphia thing seemed to have evaporated and we’re not quite sure where that leaves him.
‘ But he’s been a great character around the place and he’s a great example to the boys. I’ve not spoken to him yet, but he can stay for longer if he wants.’