MOTHERWELL manager Stephen Robinson says that Gael Bigirimana has shown himself to be a real Steelman by knuckling down and forcing his way into his starting 11.

The midfielder looked to be on his way out of Fir Park during the summer after flitting in and out of the side following his move to Lanarkshire from Coventry 12 months ago.

But after holding his hands up to his lack of application, Bigirimana is now the last player off the training pitch as he looks to finally establish himself in Scottish football.

That has delighted his manager, who says having the Burundian at his best is like having a new player.

“It was very refreshing to hear a footballer holding his hands up and saying it was his fault he was out of the team,” said Robinson.

“He wasn’t fit enough, and by the time he did get fit, we were on a run that meant he couldn’t get into the team.

“I’ve got to give him massive credit, because he’s come back and he’s knuckled down and got so much fitter.

“He’s in the gym every day, and he’s the last one off the pitch taking his set-plays and free-kicks, and you saw the benefit of that on Sunday.

“So, he deserves his success. The world we live in is an X-factor world where everyone wants instant success. It didn’t happen for him, but he didn’t give up.

“It’s really refreshing to see a boy knuckle down, see what he could be doing better and doing it.

“We thought he may leave the football club, but he didn’t for various reasons, and I’m delighted he hasn’t.

“He’s stayed, and he’s shown a little bit of steel. Players sometimes run away and don’t take responsibility themselves, and he has.

“I can’t give him enough credit for that. He took the responsibility for not getting into the team, and he’s proved what a good player we all knew and thought he was.

“He’s been excellent in the three games he’s played, and long may it continue.

“It’s been like a new signing.”

In terms of actual new signings, it is highly unlikely anyone else will be joining the Fir Park club before tonight’s transfer deadline, even if one of Robinson’s star men is lured away.

“We’re always open to things a club our size, but we haven’t had any offers at this moment in time,” said Robinson.

“I’ve no plans to bring anybody in at this stage because there’s no room in the budget to do that.

“I’m happy with the squad that I’ve got. We got a lot of our signings in early on, we don’t tend to do a lot of business towards the end of the window because we can’t compete with people. We try to get our boys we want in early.

“We’re in a position where we don’t have to accept offers willy-nilly. We won’t stand in anyone’s way, but it will be on our terms.

“I think we’ve got cover in every area now. We’ve got numbers in midfield, but probably the one place we didn’t cover was Charles Dunne.

“I don’t think you can replace that exceptional pace and athleticism, but we have three boys in there now who have done really well.”