Motherwell FC News – November 1996
November 1996
29.11.96 Motherwell have been hit with another two injury blows. Mitchell Van der Gaag damaged a cheekbone in his comeback match against Hibs reserves on Wednesday and will miss tomorrow’s match at Easter Road, although he should re-start training to Monday. Meanwhile Lee McCulloch suffered a broken arm in a 5-aside training match during the week.
28.11.96 Mitchell Van der Gaag was due to play against Hibs reserves yesterday and could return to the first-team squad at Easter Road on Saturday. Dougie Arnott and Billy Davies were both rested against Peterlee at the weekend and are fit again after knee knocks, but Willie Falconer and Fraser Wishart are still both ruled out with knee and ankle injuries.
Motherwell have so far failed in their plans to get local companies to support their youth policy. The club has launched a new project called Youth 200 but so far have been snubbed in their efforts. Out of 50 contacts made only two businesses have shown an interest in the scheme.
25.11.96 The friendly match on Saturday ended Peterlee Newtown 0, Motherwell 8. Click here for Ricky Mullen’s match report.
John Hendry resumes training today and expects to be back in first-team reckoning by the Aberdeen match on 14 December. Willie Falconer is also ready to resume training and should also be fit for the trip to Pittodrie.
21.11.96 Mitchell Van der Gaag is expected to make his comeback in the friendly match against Peterlee Town on Saturday, having missed the last four games with a groin injury.
Tickets for Motherwell’s home match against Celtic on December 7 go on sale at Fir Park from Wednesday.
20.11.96 Tommy Coyne’s hat-trick on Saturday could have earned him a recall to the Republic of Ireland international squad.
18.11.96 Motherwell have signed midfielder Joni Lehtonen from Finnish club Iives Tampere on a month’s trial. The 23 year old has seven under-21 caps and is keen to secure a permanent move. After making his debut as a substitute at Rugby Park at the weekend, his next appearance will be against the English non-league side Peterlee Town in County Durham in a friendly match next Saturday. The match was arranged as Motherwell have a blank Saturday due to Hearts appearance in the Coca-Cola Cup Final.
Another player to be linked with Motherwell over the weekend was English striker Lee Power, currently playing with Peterborough and formerly of Norwich City.
15.11.96 Motherwell have signed former Aberdeen and Hibs midfielder Paul Kane from Norweigan club Viking Stavanger. The player has been signed as a trialist for the next three matches and his move could become permanant if he impresses ‘Well boss Alex Mcleish. Kane is expected to make his debut tomorrow against Kilmarnock at Rugby Park.
Willie Falconer has been ordered to rest for a fortnight after he suffered a reaction when he came back too soon following a knee operation.
14.11.96 Mitchell Van der Gaag and Willie Falconer will again be missing at Rugby Park on Saturday but Van der Gaag may be back for Motherwell’s next match against Hibs on November 30. Falconer is set to visit a specialist this week. Jamie Dolan will return to midfield on Saturday following his two-match ban and Tommy Coyne will again lead the attack after playing for the entire 90 minutes against Hearts.
Alex McLeish has dismissed talk of Aberdeen’s 34 year old striker Duncan Shearer coming to Fir Park when he admitted that he had no money to sign the player.
Alain Horace, a 24 year old African, played for Motherwell reserves in their 2-0 defeat at Easter Road on Saturday but McLeish said he wouldn’t be pursuing his interest. He is hoping to get another couple of players on trial though, including one from Finland.
11.11.96 Motherwell’s match against Rangers on Saturday May 3 has been moved to Monday May 5 with a 3pm kick-off to accommodate SKY Television.
Motherwell have major injury problems for tonight’s match against Hearts. Jamie Dolan is still suspended and Billy Davies, Mitchell Van der Gaag, Willie Falconer and Fraser Wishart are rated as very doubtful due to injury. Tommy Coyne is expected to play from the start and Lee McCulloch, Andy Roddie, Roy Essandoh and Stephen Craigan are added to the squad.
7.11.96 Mitchell Van der Gaag is still struggling to shake off his groin injury and is unlikely to play against Hearts on Monday, but Tommy Coyne could play from the start following his appearance as a substitute last week.
6.11.96 ‘Well goalkeeper Scott Howie is expected to be called into the Scotland squad for Sunday’s game against Sweden.
Motherwell are reported to be lining up a 100,000 bid for unsettled Aberdeen striker Duncan Shearer. The 34 year old is unhappy at not playing first team football at Pittodrie and has indicated he wants a transfer.
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