Football Is Back With Motherwell In Europe

Motherwell midfielder Keith Lasley has urged the club's young players to seize their chance amid adversity just like former Fir Park heroes such as James McFadden. With Paul Quinn looking likely to sign for Cardiff and Brian McLean completing a move to Falkirk, new Well boss Jim Gannon has only 11 experienced players for tonight's Europa League qualifier against Llanelli. Seven of the players who started the final game of last season are not available for the first-leg clash at Airdrie's Excelsior Stadium. The significant recent exodus from Fir Park, coupled with the financial uncertainty in the SPL League caused by the collapse of Setanta, should see youth given their chance, from the bench at least. While Gannon has shown a willingness to do just that in his previous role at Stockport, necessity could also give birth to new careers for some Motherwell youngsters. The same situation occurred when the club went into administration in April 2002, shedding 19 players, and accelerating the progress of future Scotland players such as McFadden, Stephen Pearson, Stevie Hammell and David Clarkson, who left this week for Bristol City.

Lasley himself emerged as a first-team regular at Fir Park during the 2001-02 season and he hopes more youngsters can follow suit. Lasley said: "We had a big squad at that point and a lot of young players maybe weren't getting a chance. Unfortunately it took the club going into administration for them to start pushing a lot of younger players through maybe quicker than they would. Out of that came McFadden, Pearson, Hammell, guys that have all moved on, and more recently Clarkson. It's definitely the way football is going, especially in Scotland, with more and more emphasis on youth development."

Llanelli manager Andy Legg admits they are catching Motherwell at the perfect moment. But the Welshman insists his players have to focus on their own game or risk a "hiding'' from the Fir Park side. And he does not want his team, who were runners-up in the Welsh Premier League last season, to be sidetracked by Motherwell's selection problems. He said: "I just feel at the end of the day they are an SPL outfit and with the quality of players they have got, and the quality of players who have left the club - David Clarkson joined Bristol City for £800,000 - we are still the underdogs. It's a great opportunity - it's the best time we can possibly play them and I hope we can take full advantage. But there has been no talk about Motherwell's squad and how many players they have got. All the focus is on how we can play. I think that's how it should be. If we turn up and perform, we'll give Motherwell a game. If we don't, we could be totally outclassed and on the end of a hiding. I'll accept it if my team give their all and it's not good enough. If they don't, I'll not be happy.''

Legg enjoyed a distinguished playing career with the likes of Notts County and Swansea, with whom he played several European ties. And he hopes to settle the nerves of his younger players before the first leg at Airdrie's Excelsior Stadium, which is being used while Motherwell's new Fir Park playing surface beds in. The player-manager said: "I'm just trying to make sure they don't freeze on the night. We have a lot of young kids, and not a lot have played in big games. I don't know whether there will be 3-4,000 there but some of my players have never played in front of crowds like that. The most they have played in front of is 7-800."

Meanwhile, Legg has suffered two late losses to his squad. Chris Holloway has fallen ill in Jamaica and is not allowed to travel home, while Jason Bowen has tendinitis in his knee.