Motherwell's Euro dream is still alive

May 13 2009 by Andrew Weston, Wishaw Press

MOTHERWELL forward Jim O’Brien has revealed he would relish the chance to play in Europe and does not want this season to end.

Motherwell are in pole position to secure automatic entry into next year’s Europa League via their favourable fair play standing.

The unexpected route into European competition means the Motherwell players could be set to play their first competitive match of the new season in the first week of July.

The Fir Parkers final match of this season is next Saturday, May 23, and conceivably the first team squad could be called back for pre-season training less than four weeks later.

Nevertheless 21-year-old O’Brien is unfazed at the possibility of having such a short summer break.

“I am humming and hawing at the prospect of the season coming to an end anyway,” the former Celtic forward told the Wishaw Press this week.

“Really I have only played half a season so in that respect I don’t want the season to come to an end.”

He continued: “If Europe comes along it would be a nice wee bonus to what has been quite a disappointing season.

“Obviously it would be a shorter break than usual if we get into Europe.

“But we are footballers and that is the stage you want to play at – as high a level as you can.”

Striker David Clarkson revealed at the weekend that a return to Europe could scupper his honeymoon plans as he is due to get married to fiancee Natalie early next month.

But O’Brien, whilst hoping to go on a short break with his fiancee next month, has not booked anything yet and will hold off until it has been confirmed if The Steelmen have qualified for Europe for the second successive season.

O’Brien was lauded by manager Mark McGhee on Saturday after the winger was deployed in a central midfield role for the first time in his career and could be set to play there tonight (May 13) against Inverness at Fir Park and on Saturday when they take on Lanarkshire rivals Hamilton in the final derby of the season.

The Republic of Ireland under-21 international said: “The manager told me to go in there and keep it simple and I thought I did okay.

“We are still up for every game and we want to give a good account of ourselves for the rest of the season.

“It’s important we finish in seventh place.”

Motherwell signed O’Brien on a permanent deal last summer after a stagnant four years at Celtic where he was shipped out on loan to Dundee United and Dunfermline.

But Mark McGhee took a punt on the pacy forward and has reaped the benefits with the youngster putting in a number of assured displays in the second half of this season.

“Come the start of this season I would never have thought I would end up playing centre midfield,” O’Brien revealed.

“I think I have definitely improved and I owe a lot to the manager and Leitchy (Scott Leitch).

“They have transformed me and this is the first step for me and hopefully I can start the next season like I have ended this one.”

O’Brien is confident of picking up three points against Inverness tonight and is determined to give the fans something to cheer about by beating local rivals Hamilton on Saturday at New Douglas Park.

He said: “It should be a good game.

“They have got some really good players as you can see by James McCarthy picking up the young player of the year award.”

He added: “One result that sticks in my head is when they went to Aberdeen and beat them up there.

“Pittodrie is a tough place to go.

“But we know what they are all about.

“They are a big physical team and are hard to beat.”