Source: FOOTYMAD
Motherwell Taking Risks To Get To Hampden
Injuries affect all teams but you would want your full squad to chose from to book a Hampden date Stuart McCall's Motherwell meet Dundee United in tonight's Scottish Cup quarter-final and is considering taking a fitness risk with some of his players. He still has major doubts over Stevie Hammell and Steven Saunders while both Stephen Craigan and Darren Randolph reported back from international duty today. The Fir Park manager plans to leave it till the last possible moment to pick his team but he has urged his players to rise above the difficulties posed by the scheduling of the replay during an international week. Craigan did not play in Northern Ireland's 2-1 defeat by Serbia but fellow centre-back Aaron Hughes has been ruled out of the EURO2012 qualifier against Slovenia, meaning the Motherwell skipper could play two games in 24 hours. McCall said: "Unfortunately from our point of view he was left out on Friday night but they have had a couple of injuries so he is starting the game. It would have been helpful if he wasn't. Whether he can come off with a bruised eyebrow after five minutes, we'll have to wait and see."Randolph is almost certain to play against United unless he arrives back at Fir Park with an injury following the Republic of Ireland's friendly against Uruguay. McCall said: "It's not ideal but it is what it is. Big Darren is away, he is on the bench for the Republic and he deserves to get a cap. He has worked ever so hard, he has been outstanding. Hopefully he will come through the time he gets on the park and they will both report for the game and we'll assess it then."McCall may also have to cope without left-back Stevie Hammell, who missed the 3-1 defeat by Kilmarnock 10 days ago with a hamstring strain, and right-back Steven Saunders, who was stretchered off with ankle damage at Rugby Park. But McCall does have Keith Lasley and Francis Jeffers, who missed the Killie game after injuring his neck while getting up off the dressing-room bench to warm up. McCall said: "Las is back from suspension, which is a great boost. Franny has trained all week so no problem there. Steven Saunders and Stevie Hammell will be touch and go and we will give them as long as we can. Whether we decide to risk them....it is the quarter-final of the cup and it's a huge game, they are desperate to play."McCall, whose team will face St Johnstone in the semi-finals of they overcome United at Fir Park for the third time this season, said: "I'm sure the players who go out there know the size of the task but they know the prize that's waiting. Just go out and give the committed performance I know they are capable of. The club have reduced ticket prices to make it affordable and hopefully, with a crowd roaring us on, we can get to where we want to be. I think it's the most important game since I've been here, it would certainly eclipse beating Celtic. I've said to the boys, the last time they played here they left the field to a standing ovation, and they will need the same sort of performance to win."
