Tough opener for 'Well

Aug 6 2008 by Andrew Weston, Wishaw Press

STRIKER David Clarkson believes Motherwell are fully prepared for the start of the new season but has warned they face a tough opening day trip to Hearts on Saturday.

The Tynecastle outfit had the better of the Fir Parkers in their three league meetings last season, winning two of the games between the sides, despite finishing 12 points behind Motherwell in eighth place.

But the 22-year-old frontman feels Hearts will be a different proposition as they – and other clubs – try to bring ’Well back down to earth from the giddy heights of third spot that earned them the right to pit their wits against European opposition in the UEFA Cup this year.

He said: “I think it is always an incentive for other clubs to come third.

“We did really well last season and it is up to us this season to keep it going.

“Maybe teams will expect a lot more from us this time after what we achieved last season so we have to be 100 per cent on our game and hopefully progress from last season.”

He added: “Tynecastle is always a difficult place no matter what stage of the season you go there and the first game of the season is always a tough one.

“They are a good, physical side and we have prepared properly for it and know it is going to be difficult.

“The gaffer has been working us hard and we will be ready.”

Saturday’s match will have an extra edge to it after this summer’s much-publicised courting of Motherwell manager Mark McGhee by Hearts’ major shareholder, Vladimir Romanov.

The Tynecastle owner thought he had secured the services of the highly-rated McGhee before the former Aberdeen player had a last-minute change of heart that will no doubt ensure him a frosty reception come kick off on Saturday.

Clarkson said: “It was great to hear he was staying because I think at one point it looked as if he was away.

“From a club’s point of view it has been great to know that we will start off the new season with the same staff that we finished with.”

Clarkson was not always involved under former Motherwell manager Maurice Malpas two seasons ago but his career has taken off under the present regime.

Having knocked in 13 goals in all competitions last season, the forward was rewarded with an international call-up.

And he made a memorable debut, scoring a superb goal after coming off the bench during Scotland’s friendly defeat to the Czech Republic in Prague last May.

Despite this rapid rise, he is concentrating solely on retaining his first-team place at Motherwell, saying: “I don’t set targets but hopefully I’ll do as well as I did last season.

“We need a good start and from my point of view I just want to be starting every week and scoring goals.

“That is the only goal I have set.”

Motherwell have a daunting set of fixtures scheduled for the first five weeks of the season against Hearts, Aberdeen, Dundee United, Hibernian and Celtic before their first foray into European competition in 13 years begins on September 18.

Clarkson added: “We will concentrate on the UEFA Cup when it comes up but for now we are working hard on preparing for the league campaign.

“We have tough games but hopefully we can get points on the board and build from there.”