Well wrap up Laing loan
Motherwell have completed the loan signing of Nottingham Forest defender Louis Laing.
The 21-year-old centre-back has joined from the Sky Bet Championship team until the end of the season.
The Newcastle-born player has trained with Ian Baraclough's squad for the last two days and could make his debut in the Scottish Premiership fixture against St Johnstone at Fir Park on Saturday.
Laing arrives at Motherwell despite attempts by Notts County to buy the player following a successful loan spell with the League One outfit this season, where he tasted defeat just once in his 12 matches.
Laing said: "I trained for the first time on Thursday morning and it was a good session. I like the way the manager speaks and he puts on good drills in training. The manager and all the coaching staff seem really good."
Laing signed for Forest last summer after leaving Sunderland, for whom he made one first-team appearance. The defender has also played for Wycombe on loan.
"I want to fight for a place in the team and stay in the team. It's not going to be easy because there are some good players here but I want to play every game, everyone does, and help the team climb the table."
Baraclough feels the signing - which follows earlier deals to bring in Stephen Pearson and Anthony Straker - is a real capture for Motherwell.
"He's a player that was sought after," the manager said.
"I watched him a couple of times at Notts County. I know about his character from speaking to people at Notts County.
"They put a bid in to buy him but Nottingham Forest wanted to keep him for another season and they were happy for him to come up to the Scottish Premiership. I'm really, really pleased about that because it was a coup for the club.
"He is a strong player who is comfortable on the ball. He's got good pace and he brought a calmness and assuredness to Notts County. He will go on to be a top, top player I'm sure and we will aid him in that development."
Henrik Ojamaa has left Fir Park following his loan spell from Legia Warsaw and Baraclough is missing Steven Hammell (groin), Iain Vigurs (sciatic nerve), Zaine Francis-Angol (groin), Paul Lawson (calf), Jack Leitch (knee) and Bob McHugh (groin), while Keith Lasley (broken toe) is a doubt.
Tommy Wright will take no heed of Motherwell's poor form.
Well boss Ian Baraclough won his first two games in charge of the Steelmen after taking over from Stuart McCall, but five Premiership defeats on the spin with the loss of 18 goals has kept them embroiled in a relegation battle.
Saints' 1-1 home draw against second-placed Aberdeen last week pleased the McDiarmid Park boss who said: "I was more than happy with the point and delighted with the performance."
But despite having beaten the Lanarkshire men twice this season, the Northern Irishman remains wary of Well.
"It doesn't change our preparation," he said.
"Players realise what this league is like, anybody can beat anybody. It doesn't really matter who you are playing.
"We had a five-game run where we lost almost every one so we are fully aware of what is required.
"Before their little bad run Motherwell had done extremely well.
"I watched the game against Dundee United (lost 3-1) and a couple of decisions may have gone against them.
"So, as always, we expect a tough game and previous results will certainly not come into our thinking.
"We know we have to be right on the day because if we are not then you can lose football matches and points."
Wright does not expect to add to his squad before the transfer window closes but is happy that 20-year-old striker Chris Kane is back from a second loan spell at Dumbarton and forward Steven MacLean and defender Thomas Scobbie are fit again.
"We have Kane, MacLean and Scobbie back so the squad is enhanced," he said.
"It is basically three new players, who we weren't able to use.
"Chris is an excellent young player whom we have high hopes for.
"He scored a lot of goals for the development team last season and then he went out to loan and scored goals in the Championship.
" He has come back a better player and he is now ready to claim a first-team place."
James McFadden returns to the squad after a three-match ban in time to face his former club, while midfielders Chris Millar (groin) and Dave Mackay (back) will be assessed.
Source: PA
