Baraclough thrilled with McDonald
Motherwell manager Ian Baraclough believes Scott McDonald's hunger to keep the club in the top flight is the most encouraging aspect of their latest transfer deal.
McDonald returned to Fir Park on Thursday almost eight years after leaving for Celtic in a B#700,000 deal.
The 31-year-old, who last played for Millwall on January 10, has 12 games to make an impact and get the Scottish Premiership bottom club out of relegation danger.
Baraclough, who will name the Australia international in his squad to play Inverness at Fir Park, said: "The thing I was most impressed with was his hunger and desire to come back here to a place he knows very, very well, to work with a few players he knows and people around the club that he is very fond of as well, which is great because it shouldn't take him long to get back in the swing of things. He is up for the challenge.
"He knows the league and he's got great qualities. He is different to the other strikers we have got as well.
"He has played 24 games in the Championship this season, I have seen him play this season. I have also seen him on the training ground at Millwall because for a couple of months I was working on Millwall's behalf. I'm really pleased to have had the conversation with him and for the club to make it happen.
"He's a fit boy and he knows what's needed. I know what he has done over the last five or six weeks and I have no qualms about putting him in the squad."
McDonald and Stephen Pearson could both make their first appearances in Motherwell colours at Fir Park for eight years.
McDonald rejoined the club on Thursday and will be in the squad while recent signing Pearson has trained all week after missing several games with a cracked rib.
Steven Hammell (groin), Iain Vigurs (sciatic nerve), Zaine Francis-Angol (groin), Paul Lawson (calf) and Jack Leitch (knee) remain out while Bob McHugh is still short of match-fitness after a groin injury.
Inverness have centre-back Gary Warren and centre-forward Marley Watkins suspended.
Warren was sent off against Dundee United in midweek and starts a two-match ban while Watkins sits out one game because of an accumulation of bookings.
James Vincent and Aaron Doran have both returned to training after injury but goalkeeper Dean Brill and captain Richie Foran remain on the sidelines with knee injuries.
Inverness have sprung a surprise ahead of their Scottish Premiership meeting with Motherwell by signing Nigeria international striker Edward Ofere.
Manager John Hughes has had several trialists in as he seeks to replace top goalscorer Billy McKay, who left for Wigan before the transfer deadline.
He appeared to have narrowed the choice down to former Middlesbrough striker Tarma Kink and Dutch forward Prince Rajcomar after saying on Thursday that both had impressed.
But the club announced on Friday afternoon that they had signed Ofere until the end of the season, subject to international clearance.
The 28-year-old, who has three caps, has previously played for Malmo and Lecce in Serie A and was most recently back in Scandinavia with Norwegian side Sogndal.
Third-placed Caley Thistle are looking to move a point behind Aberdeen but Hughes also has an eye on events at the other end of the table.
And, despite his affection for Motherwell, he is looking to plunge them deeper in relegation trouble to help keep alive the top-flight Highland derby against Ross County.
"Now that I'm up here I'm a Highlander and I know the rivalry is there between the two teams but I want Ross County to stay in the Scottish Premiership," he said.
"And if we can do down to Motherwell on Saturday and do them a turn, then that's what we will do.
"We can keep the friendly rivalry but I think the two teams have to stay close because it's great for the Highlands - two is better than one."
Source: PA
