SCOTT McDONALD has been freed to play in the first leg of the SPFL Premiership Play-Off final after having the red card he picked up against St Mirren overturned.

The Aussie striker was ordered off when referee Brian Colvin, having taken advice from his assistants, adjudged him to have deliberately elbowed Thomas Reilly.

McDonald appealed against the two-game suspension that was set to rule him out of Saturday's league visit of Partick Thistle and the first leg of the Play-Off final against Rangers or Hibernian and had the red card downgraded to a yellow at a Fast Track hearing held by the Scottish Football Association's Judicial Panel.

"I'll be honest, I've been devastated since it happened," said McDonald. "I couldn't believe the ref brandished the red card, as I genuinely didn't think I had made any contact.

"The officials made a decision and I was angry with them at the time. I know they've only got a split second to make the call, but I'm glad they've seen it for what it really was.

"All my focus is now on trying everything I can to keep Motherwell in the SPFL Premiership."

Motherwell's general manager, Alan Burrows, expressed his own delight at having McDonald available for selection as the Lanarkshire club battle to preserve their place in Scottish football's top flight.

"I would like to once again thank the Compliance Officer Tony McGlennan and his staff for arranging the hearing so swiftly along with the members of the panel who sat and considered our case," he said.

"It's another satisfying conclusion. Scott can now fully focus on some big games for the club over the next ten days."