IF there are two teams desperate for the new SPFL Premiership season to get underway it is Motherwell and Hibernian.
The pair open their domestic campaigns at Easter Road tomorrow, both hoping to put disappointing European results behind them.
Hibs have been left to simmer for over a week after their embarrassing 9-0 aggregate Europa League loss to Malmo, while Motherwell's stay in the competition is likely to be just as brief following a 2-0 defeat by Kuban Krasnodar on Thursday. They travel to Russia for the return next week, with Stuart McCall admitting the tie is already all but over. The start of the league season, then, has been unsurprisingly warmly embraced.
"It's the first game of the season and it's back to your bread and butter," said Stephen McManus, the Motherwell defender. "We will be looking to go and win the game, just as Hibs will be looking to bounce back. They have had to wait a bit longer for that opportunity. As soon as you take a knock, the next game can't come quickly enough. Thursday wasn't a game to mull over and get too down about. That's not how football works."
McManus could have been lining up against Motherwell had things worked out differently. The former Celtic defender spent time on trial at Easter Road this summer before electing instead to join McCall's side. "It was probably one of the hardest decisions I've had to make," he said. "I was expecting to go to either Motherwell or Hibs and maybe not enjoy one as much. That would have made my decision easier. But I went to Hibs and really enjoyed my time. Pat Fenlon, his coaching staff and the players were all great. I couldn't say anything negative about Hibs at all, but in the end I went for my gut feeling which said Motherwell.
"I think I made the right decision. I have loved my time here so far. This is the first time I have been at what you might call a smaller, family-oriented club where there is not a lot of staff overall. There was a real good feeling about the place as soon as I walked in the door and that's what made me want to come here."
Motherwell finished the best of the rest last year and, despite losing many of their key performers, will be expected to push for second once more. McCall hoped to add at least one new face to help with that aim. "I'm pleased with the squad, we're strong in areas. We've not got the pace we had last season but we'll hopefully try and get one in during the next month. It won't be anyone on big bucks but we would hope to get one in to give us an option."
McCall started with Lee Hollis in goal against Kuban but also has new signing Gunnar Nielsen pushing for a start. "If Gunnar had come in and been a lot better, I might have gone with him. But I think they have both been as good as each other in the games and in training. In fairness, I said to Lee last season, when he signed his two-year deal because we thought Daz [Darren Randolph] might go, we would give him a fair crack. They have both been in form, there has been nothing between them. Out of fairness to Lee, he played. I have spoken to Gunnar and he understands that. So we have two goalies fighting for the jersey."
Hibs, meanwhile, desperately needed similar competition in attack but have added James Collins to do just that. The Republic of Ireland internationalist signed in the immediate aftermath of the second leg against Malmo but insists the stadium and standard of the club's training facilities convinced him that he had made the right decision.
"It's a great platform for people's career and, whether people play here or the [English] Championship, I think they are equivalent to each other," he said. "It's basically down to personal opinion. I think I can boost my profile up here. I have done well in the lower divisions in England, so coming here to the top tier of Scotland is definitely a test for me in my career. Gary Hooper has got a massive move to the Premier League. So, I think if you can come up to Scotland and do really well you make a good name for yourself."
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