Lamie doing his homework in bid to halt Ibrox hitmen

TWO strikers, two very different propositions. The task of preparing for a game against Rangers is a tricky business for any Premiership defender but if Ricki Lamie falls short at Fir Park today, it won’t be through a lack of groundwork. A self-confessed soccer nerd, the Motherwell stopper gorges on football footage at home. By his own loose estimate, he watches up to 50 games a week.

This deep perspective should keep him calm as he waits for the teamsheets to drop and learn whether Giovanni van Bronckhorst has decided to go with Antonio Colak or Alfredo Morelos.

Colak is the poacher supreme, a striker who ghosts away from defenders and into the space in which he can apply his trademark one-touch finish. In complete contrast, Morelos likes his opponents to know exactly where he is and thrives on the physical contact of going up against a centre-back.

Colak has generally been preferred for Premiership duty this season, rattling in ten league goals as he’s staked his claim as the club’s No 1 marksman. Yet, after the Croat was selected to run the hard and thankless yards in the 7-1 thumping by Liverpool in midweek, Van Bronckhorst may decide to hand Morelos the shirt today. Either way, Lamie insists he will be ready.

‘Regardless of who it is, they will certainly be a threat,’ says Lamie (below). ‘It will be interesting because they have a surplus of goods.

‘At this level, you come up against different types every week. Morelos is a tough opponent, there’s a reason why he scores goals. He’s a good player and a physical presence, too, but that’s what I love about playing at this level — you get to test yourself against the best players.

‘The bigger guys pose a different problem to the penalty-box strikers like Colak and you need to get your all-round game up to speed.

‘I probably watch the highlights of 40 or 50 games a week, right through the divisions down south and up here.

‘I used to watch footage from abroad but I have limited it

— I don’t think my missus would let me watch it all.

‘It’s not just the strikers but the defenders and how they deal with it. Whether it’s a

Friday night, sitting watching YouTube and how Sergio Ramos goes

about it. ‘I really like Thiago Silva. I’ve always had a soft spot for Chelsea and growing up John Terry was my idol. If you can base your game on somebody at that level and you get close to it, then you are doing alright. ‘Liam Kelly (Motherwell goalkeeper) is obsessive, too. If you watch enough football then hopefully you get better.’ Lamie started his career at Airdrie and earned his spurs at Morton before graduating to the Premiership with Livingston. ‘This is my fifth season in the top flight and I’ve faced a range of different strikers,’ he adds. ‘I wouldn’t pinpoint one, I’d say there was a lot of good players, going from (Odsonne) Edouard and (Moussa) Dembele to Morelos.

‘Kyogo poses a different threat again. Plenty of quality and hopefully that’s led to me becoming better.’

Now 29, he’s arrived at the peak point of his career but came very close to moving out of Fir Park during a bizarre transfer saga that commenced when he signed a pre-contract with Dundee last January.

Sold on James McPake’s plan to take the Dark Blues forward, Lamie began to get cold feet when the manager was sacked and replaced by Mark McGhee. Fortunately there was a relegation break clause and he recommitted to Motherwell.

‘It’s a crazy game and you never know what is round the corner,’ he laughs. ‘I’ve always enjoyed it here and was open to staying. It’s a good fit and I am adding consistency and quality to my game.’