Motherwell skipper Keith Lasley enjoying his football more than ever
Motherwell captain Keith Lasley admits he relishes occasions like Friday's televised clash with Hearts more than ever.
Lasley turned 37 last week but he remains at the heart of the Motherwell team he has graced for most of this century.
The midfielder has started seven games in a row since missing the opening Ladbrokes Premiership game through suspension and could lead his team to second place on Friday.
"Another birthday last week, 21 plus VAT I think the club were saying, but I'm enjoying my football more than ever," Lasley said.
"Even a game like Friday night under the floodlights at Fir Park - pitch is looking fantastic, it will be a good atmosphere, on the telly - I probably enjoy and appreciate these occasions more than I ever have, more than I did earlier in my career.
"I'm loving it, still making a contribution. That's the most important thing, there's no point me being here just turning up and making up the numbers.
"I want to still make a contribution and I'm hungry to do that. If I still believe I'm doing that and, more importantly the manager still believes I'm doing that, then great, I will just keep going."
Lasley admits the chance to move second, even if it is only for a few hours, is an added motivation.
"It's still early, we all know that, we've not played everyone yet, but it still is an incentive," he said.
"If you can get above Hearts at any point in the season then you know you have been doing well."
Jack Hamilton will not take his slot in the Hearts squad for granted, never mind his international place.
The 22-year-old goalkeeper was this week named in his third consecutive Scotland squad, for the World Cup qualifiers against Lithuania and Slovakia.
But Hamilton has only been Hearts' number one for a couple of months and will not get ahead of himself after receiving his latest call-up from Gordon Strachan.
"It came as a surprise again and it's a real honour to be back in the squad," he said.
"It's massive for a young goalie as it's a great opportunity to go away and learn from the people in front of you and be in that environment.
"That's where you want to be in football. Every footballer wants to be involved in those squads but first my main aim is to be there in the Hearts squad.
"I need to stay in this squad to help me get in the Scotland squad."
Hamilton and his Hearts team-mates head for Fir Park looking for a first goal in three matches.
Strikers Tony Watt, Conor Sammon, Robbie Muirhead and Bjorn Johnsen have only managed three strikes between them this season.
However, Hamilton has seen enough in training to convince him it will not be long before they start finding the target regularly in matches.
"They are fantastic players and there are days when they are pinging balls past me for fun," he said.
"It's not really anything to worry about just because we haven't scored in the last two games.
"We took five off Inverness, we've got players who can score, so we just need to keep faith in them."
Source: PAR
