Ross wants more swagger from Fir Park kids

CAN Maurice Ross see a lot of his younger self in the clutch of Motherwell prospects he will lead into the SPFL Reserve League Cup final tomorrow night?

To answer that question, the Fir Park coach must explain there were two versions of him at Rangers.

One was dubbed ‘Bomber’s Boy’ at Murray Park, the model pro in John Brown’s youth ranks who rose to be a regular pick for first team training before making a full-on breakthrough.

The other was the brash know-it-all he turned into upon making that leap.

As the 38-year-old charts a path in the game for the next group on the Motherwell conveyer belt, he figures that somewhere in between might be about right.

Ross (right) looks at many under his command and is crying out for some swagger to prevail. Yet he notes so much good ingrained that they will never lose their humility, nor natural talent.

‘At 18, 19, I worked hard, did extra, was never in bother, kept my nose clean and that’s how I got in,’ he recalls. ‘It wasn’t until I was 21 that I was a hotshot. ‘I started becoming a wee bit too opinionated and obstinate. It happened because I just got too carried away. ‘I wasn’t mature enough to handle being recognised in the street, playing for Scotland, winning trophies, money. It was too much, too soon. ‘I’d be able to smell that a mile off in my players. And I don’t see it here. Do you know what the problem here is? There’s not enough ego.

‘I’d like to see a wee bit more of it. Okay, too much is no good. But you’ve got to have that wee bit extra.’

In January, Ross won the race to land the attractive post of managing Motherwell’s 18s to 21s. Allan Campbell, David Turnbull, Jake Hastie and, more recently, James Scott, have advanced to Stephen Robinson’s first team from those reserve ranks.

A hint of the next crop’s standard is that winger Stuart McKinstry, 16, who set up both semi-final goals against St Johnstone, is in line to join Leeds this summer despite not playing a first-team game.

‘In the next 18 months, there will be at least three first-team players from this batch,’ stated Ross.

‘There’s one on the cusp. Two if you include James Scott who is 6ft 2in, can run, dribble, shoot with both feet. He’s humble, looks like a man.

‘But he’s still not got the mind of a man. And that’s where we’ve got to be patient because he’s got every single tool in the bag. It’s how we manage him that is vital.’