STEPHEN ROBINSON is hoping that Stephen O’Donnell’s Scotland ambitions will sway him towards committing his immediate future to the Fir Park club, reminding the defender he owes his recent caps to Motherwell.
O’Donnell’s short-term deal is due to expire in January, and Robinson wants to secure the right-back for the remainder of the season at the very least.
“The reason Stephen is playing for Scotland is because he signed for us,” Robinson said. “He didn’t have a club. He probably owes Motherwell a lot because we gave him that platform.
“It’s nice to have another international player on the books and people who need to play football to get into that European Championship squad.”
Robinson is also hoping to tie up longer term deals for O’Donnell’s Scotland teammate Declan Gallagher, Scotland under-21 skipper Alan Campbell and attacking midfielder Liam Polworth, all of whom are out of contract this summer.
“Unfortunately in this day and age they are in control of it,” he said.
“The boys we want to keep have been offered contracts. Jordan (Archer) is a different situation because his was short term and that’s something we will discuss.
“We haven’t got any more money to go any further with the contracts - people have the right to speak to clubs in January unfortunately but as long as people stay focused on Motherwell.
“Ultimately it’s down to the players and their decisions. I want people who are here 100 per cent focused.”
Robinson says he is ready to shake things up in January whatever happens after an up-and-down start to the campaign, hoping to bring at least two players into the club.
“It will probably be loan signings but it will depend on who leaves and who we can get out,” he said. “We certainly need to get people out before we can do any business.
“There are people we are speaking to. I’m hoping to get a couple of players in and give us a bit of a jag.
“When you see new faces in the building in January suddenly it lifts everyone’s game. If it means a bit of wheeling and dealing that’s what we’ll do.”
The Motherwell boss takes his side to Ibrox this afternoon to take on a Rangers side still smarting from their Betfred Cup exit to St Mirren during the week, and Robinson believes his men can cause the league leaders problems too if they can stay in the game for as long as possible.
“I think we’ve all got the same blueprint, defend for your life and hope something drops your way,” he said.
“Credit to St Mirren, they stayed in the game, and I think that’s the key to it.
“It doesn’t matter if you play a back four or a back five, you’re going to be behind the ball a lot.
“They’ve got players that can hurt you in every area of the pitch, but you have to try and stay in the game.
“The last time we played them we had two penalties against us and effectively the game was over at half-time.
“So, we’ve got to try and reduce the chances of that, stay in the game, and gradually the game will open up as they start to take some more chances and you start coming into the game. That’s something we’ll look to do.”
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