Paul Hartley won't change approach against managerless Motherwell
Dundee manager Paul Hartley believes Motherwell will blank out uncertainty over the managerial situation when they face his team at Dens Park.
Motherwell are still considering applications to replace sacked boss Ian Baraclough but they won last week against Partick Thistle under caretaker Stephen Craigan.
Craigan and the club have banned all talk about his own future this week in a bid to focus on the Ladbrokes Premiership game and Hartley is sure they will be concentrated on the task in hand.
He said: "I think Stephen knows the club pretty well. He's been there for a while.
"They had a good result last week so we know we face a pretty tough game.
"The players will still be going to prove their worth regardless of the managerial situation. That's how it is in football. As a player you block out the rest. That's how you handle it in football.
"Motherwell still have good players and that doesn't change. We know we will have to play well to win, as is always the case, so we won't be changing our approach."
Meanwhile, defender Kosta Gadzhalov has been spared surgery on his shoulder following a consultation with a specialist, although he remains out for the visit of Motherwell.
"Kosta now doesn't need surgery," Hartley said. "It's just going to be rehab for him.
"So he'll probably be another couple of weeks before he's back, some time after the international break."
Stephen Pearson aims to help Motherwell continue moving up the table when they face Dundee following his surprise return against Partick Thistle.
Caretaker manager Craigan showed his faith in Pearson last weekend by pitching the midfielder in for the 2-1 win despite being told he was only 70 per cent fit.
Pearson had not played since suffering knee ligament damage on the opening day against Inverness.
"It was a surprise," the 33-year-old said. "I had only taken part in training two or three times.
"The manager had a lot of faith in putting me in there and I was just delighted to get through the 90 minutes and play my part in a victory.
"I have still got a bit to go but hopefully the match sharpness will come soon."
Pearson and Wes Fletcher teamed up to net Motherwell's opening goal of the season inside four minutes at Inverness but both have been out for most of the season until making their comebacks against the Jags.
The former was injured during that opening 45 minutes after going in for a tackle that left Gary Warren with a fractured leg.
"I had a good pre-season and felt really good," the former Celtic player said. "I went in for a ball that, looking back on, I should have pulled out of.
"But I'm sure you get slaughtered for that if you pull out.
"It was just one of those things, I just mistimed it. I missed a lot of football and it's been very frustrating but I'm just glad to be back."
Source: PAR
