May delighted by Arfield recovery

01 October 2009 17:16
Arfield missed last Saturday's goalless draw against Kilmarnock after aggravating the ankle injury that forced him to sit out most of the stalemate against Hamilton. But the Scotland Under-21 midfielder has returned to training ahead of Saturday's SPL clash at Fir Park. "If we're missing a player like that, it's very difficult to replace with the size of squad we've got and also the quality you're losing," May said. "He's a massive loss when he doesn't play. He is certainly playing very well. He is getting back to the Scotty that everybody knew a year and a bit ago. "It was unfortunate last year he didn't hit the heights he is capable of, but that happens in football - that doesn't make him a bad player. "If anything it enhances you, because you are more determined to influence games. He has certainly done that this season." Arfield was the subject of a failed £250,000 up-front offer from Hibernian in August after attracting the interest of several Championship clubs. And May believes the 20-year-old has the character to have a significant career. "He can get where he wants to because his temperament and attitude have always been first class," May said. "He accepts that sometimes when things don't go right, how you react to it mentally is important, and he certainly reacted the right way." May expects his side to be sharper at Fir Park after commenting on how jaded they looked against Kilmarnock in their fourth game in 12 days. The Falkirk boss apologised to the fans for the quality of entertainment but he anticipates a more exciting afternoon in Lanarkshire. "The reason I said that is because, if you're combating one style, your own style is going to suffer," May said. "We could go and play how we usually play and probably got the same result as we did last year - get beat 3-0. We just felt it was appropriate that we were a lot tighter. The first team did that last year and drew 1-1." Motherwell manager Jim Gannon favours the expansive style of play that May aspires to and the Falkirk boss will be happy to watch a more open game despite going four matches without a goal. "If they are prepared to be open, then it will certainly be an open game," the former Motherwell player said. "If we can get the right players on the ball to open them up, then we'll get chances. "But when you go out attacking you are obviously going to concede that they're going to get chances, so it's up to us to be the best we can in front of goal."

Source: Team_Talk