Motherwell v St Johnstone: Midfielder will chase Europe with Saints before marching on

Saturday 19 January 2013

LIAM CRAIG has settled his future by inviting more questions.

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These are unfair but inevitable, the St Johnstone midfielder's decision to sign a pre-contract with Hibernian ahead of a two-year contract in the summer bringing scrutiny on his final appearances for the Perth side. It would be cruel to assume that just because he has sought certainty over his future he will now only feign interest in his current club but Craig will use the trip to Motherwell tomorrow to reaffirm his professionalism.

His eventual move to Hibs has given him a new perspective on his final months with St Johnstone, though. Craig played for the club in the Europa League this season and he wants to depart with his team-mates able to look forward to another crack at the continent this summer. And not just on the beaches of Zante.They will travel to Fir Park tomorrow just two points outside of the European places in the Clydesdale Bank Premier League and Craig has resolved to anchor the club among them before he jumps ship. "St Johnstone made me a very good offer to stay," said Craig, who moved to McDiarmid Park from Falkirk five years ago. "But now my future is sorted out for the next two years I can put the pre-contract stuff out of my mind and focus on the last few months of the season."I'm a professional. I want to leave Saints on a high. That would mean qualifying for Europe again. That was special for all of us, the players and fans. Or maybe we can make the cup final. That would be the ideal way to sign off."Zaine Francis-Angol yesterday signed on, specifically at the bottom of a new two-and-a-half-year contract with Motherwell. The defender, previously on the books at Tottenham Hotspur, has been a bit-part player this season but is hoping to take advantage of the dwindling finances in the Scottish game to figure more relevantly at Fir Park next season.It is expected that he will be followed in committing his immediate future to the club by Stuart McCall, although the Motherwell manager sounded a note of caution that he will look at his budget next season before agreeing terms."I have no great ambitions to manage at a high level or manage elsewhere, but what I do want to do is keep working with good players," said McCall. "I saw a quote from David Moyes saying he is looking to sign a new deal with Everton but will wait until the window closes."The board have always been up front with me but I don't want to put myself out there and then two players leave on deadline day because we have had great offers."

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Motherwell v St Johnstone: Midfielder will chase Europe with Saints before marching on

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