Motherwell V Dundee Utd at Fir Park Stadium : Match Preview

07 August 2015 17:01
Motherwell V Dundee Utd - view commentary, squad, and statistics of the game live.


McManus praise for Ripley

Motherwell defender Stephen McManus has tipped new goalkeeper Connor Ripley to make a major impact at Fir Park.

McManus played alongside Ripley at Middlesbrough and was delighted to see him join Motherwell on loan.

The imposing goalkeeper did not have a save to make as he kept a clean sheet on his debut, a 1-0 win at Inverness, but he caught every high ball he went for and looked a dominant personality in his penalty box.

Ripley will make his home debut when Motherwell host Dundee United in the Ladbrokes Premiership on Saturday and McManus has full confidence in the goalkeeper, who is the son of former Boro, Blackburn and England winger Stuart Ripley.

McManus said: "He's a really good personality. He has been involved in a football environment all his life, he knows how it works. His dad was a top player as well.

"Connor has a big future in the game. He signed a three-year deal at Middlesbrough at 22. You don't get contracts from Championship clubs at that age unless you are very highly thought of, but he's a lad that wants to go and play, which shows you the type of character he is.

"He is a typical goalie, he is daft as a brush, but he will be a real, real asset to this club. You can see with his physicality and his presence, but the one thing he has got, he is vocal. For a lot of young players, that's not always the case. He will breed confidence to the team and it's a great platform to come and play."

Midfielder Stephen Pearson is out of Saturday's clash after suffering a knee injury in the opening win at Inverness, while Lionel Ainsworth completes a two-match ban and Craig Reid is yet to return to action following a knee problem.

Dundee United midfielder Charlie Telfer appreciates he needs to impose himself on games after becoming one of the team's main creative hopes.

This time last year Telfer had only made one substitute appearance for Rangers and had just joined United, but Jackie McNamara's team have since lost Gary Mackay-Steven, Stuart Armstrong and Nadir Ciftci to Celtic, while Ryan Dow will again be missing through injury for Saturday's encounter.

More is now expected of Telfer as he enters his second season at Tannadice and the 20-year-old aims to improve on his showing in the opening 1-0 defeat by Aberdeen.

Telfer, who scored four goals in 25 games last season, said: "Obviously on Sunday I wasn't particularly happy with the way I played. I wanted to impact the game more because big players have left so you feel you have more responsibility to influence the team and make an impact.

"I just want to get a good run of games and get a level on consistency where the manager can't leave you out and you're making a massive influence on the team. If that's scoring goals, creating goals or just doing things that help the team win games."

Striker Mario Bilate is struggling to make the Saturday's match after going off with a tight hamstring against Aberdeen and United will take no risks, although the injury does not appear to be serious.

Ryan Dow (hamstring), Callum Morris (thigh) and Paul Paton (knee) remain on the sidelines.


Source: PAR