Palazuelos ready for 'cup final'
Ross County midfielder Ruben Palazuelos believes the visit of fellow relegation rivals Motherwell on Saturday is akin to a cup final for the struggling Staggies.
The Dingwall club, with just two wins this season, are rooted to the bottom of the Scottish Premiership, six points behind the Steelmen.
The 31-year-old Spaniard, who spent four years at Hearts between 2007 and 2011, signed for County in the transfer window to plunge himself into a relegation battle which he believes reaches critical point against Well.
He said: "Motherwell is the most important game of the season. It is like a final.
"It is a massive game for us at our stadium, in front of our fans.
"I think the players are ready for the game. I hope we get three points and the situation changes as soon as possible."
Palazuelos, who had been without a club since leaving Cypriot side Ermis Aradippou in November, has slipped comfortably back into Scottish football and believes a victory could kick-start County's season.
He said: "I played nearly 130 games with Hearts so I have this experience and the football has not changed a lot, it is a similar style of football.
"My agent told me about Ross County being interested in me, they needed a midfielder and I am really happy to be part of this team.
"I am feeling good. Now we have to show we are good on the field.
"There is not much between our team and teams like Hamilton and Inverness, who are in the top six.
"We have to have a little bit more of luck because I have seen in training in the last two or three weeks that we have very good players.
"If we get the three points on Saturday we will get more confidence and go up the table."
Meanwhile, Motherwell manager Ian Baraclough is relishing the selection problems prompted by "ferocious" competition for places.
Baraclough has four deadline-day signings vying for debuts and several players back from injury as Motherwell visit the only team below them in the Scottish Premiership.
On-loan Everton midfielder Conor Grant, former Plymouth winger Nathan Thomas, Sheffield United goalkeeper George Long and wide player Marvin Johnson, Motherwell's recent purchase from Kidderminster, are all aiming for their first taste of Scottish football.
And Baraclough welcomes back the experience of Stephen McManus, Keith Lasley and Stephen Pearson after all three missed the 1-1 draw with St Johnstone on January 31 through injury.
Baraclough said: "This Saturday couldn't come quick enough. It's been a good period for us, the two weeks, to embed the new players and bring one or two of the injured players back in.
"The competition for places has been ferocious. There has been a real upturn in the tempo of training because there is more competition.
"The new players want to make an impression, they have made an impression, and they have lifted everything around the club.
"It's been like a mini pre-season where you try to put a lot of work into them, whether it's fitness work or technical. It's been a good two weeks and we want to finish with a good performance and good result at the end of it.
"With the amount of positivity around the football club, the three points would give it a massive boost and an injection that I think would lift this football club massively."
Motherwell still have at least eight players missing through injury and suspension but that is down on the 10 from two weeks ago.
And, with seven new signings joining in January and only Henrik Ojamaa leaving, Baraclough has a very different selection problem.
"For once, I'm going to disappoint a few," he said. "There might have been the odd one that I've disappointed by saying 'you have not made it this week'.
"What any manager wants is to have a real conundrum at times in certain positions. That's what we have had in the last couple of days.
"We have worked on a lot of things and players know what their roles and responsibilities are if and when called upon.
"I am going to disappoint a few and they have got to react in the right way and say: 'Well, if it's not this week I might have to come off the bench and make an impact and make sure I am in your thoughts for the following week'."
Source: PA
