MOTHERWELL

REASONS TO BE CHEERFUL

THE recruitment of Gael Bigirimana under freedom of contract from Coventry City is really interesting.

Still just 23 years old, the central midfielder has played at a good level, having been in the English Premier League with Newcastle United.

Not only that, he heads north on the back of a strong season in League One with Coventry, which saw him pick up two separate Player of the Year awards.

According to reports from England, they were keen to get him to re- sign but the player himself fancied a new challenge.

Having failed to make the breakthrough when up here on loan at Rangers from Newcastle in 2015, I think he could have more luck this time, which should be good news for the Fir Park faithful.

MANAGER

STEVE ROBINSON ( pictured left) has the lowest profile of the Northern Irish managerial contingent in our game.

But given two of the others are Brendan Rodgers and Neil Lennon, that is not saying much! He is wellknown among fans at Fir Park, however, and has taken a big step up from being coach to manager.

He talks with a lot of confidence, but he is going to have his work cut out because Motherwell have become relegation battlers in recent seasons.

Without the resources of the likes of Aberdeen, Hearts and Hibs, I think that is likely to continue.

MOST-IMPORTANT PLAYER

CAN Motherwell hold on to Louis Moult ( pictured far left)? Whether he stays or goes could be key to their season.

Aberdeen have had a £500,000 bid rejected already. That is good money, but the fact the offer was rejected was no surprise.

Moult is a proven goalgetter, and with Scott McDonald already away, Well can’t afford to let him go.

If they did, both of the men who delivered most of their points would be out of their team.

REASONS TO BE FEARFUL

MOTHERWELL only just avoided the play- off last season, having signed off the campaign with a defeat to Inverness Caley Thistle, who had been automatically relegated.

That was a serious slip from their fifth- place finish in 2016, and an unwelcome reminder of the drama of two years ago when they needed a play-off Final win over Rangers to retain their place in the top flight.