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Having racked up over 550 appearances as a player for Motherwell, Steven Hammell is now charged with overseeing the next influx of young talent making their way in the professional game at the club.

The academy director speaks about this year’s new intake, what they will learn and the pathway for youngsters to first team football.

Our squad numbers for the 2021/22 season have been set.

Notable changes include the moves to number five for Bevis Mugabi and six for Barry Maguire, as well as Steven Lawless taking the number 11 jersey and Stephen O’Donnell switching to number two.

New signings Kaiyne Woolery, Justin Amaluzor and Connor Shields take seven, 17 and 29 respectively.

Motherwell 2021/22 squad numbers

Motherwell B will face Stranraer in the first round of the SPFL Trust Trophy.

The young Steelmen will be away in the tie, which will be played on 10/11 August 2021.

The venue and kick-off time will be confirmed shortly.

Should they progress, ‘Well will host Partick Thistle on September 4/5.

Twelve players have graduated from our youth academy to sign professional terms with the club.

At the back, 17-year-old New Zealand-born goalkeeper Lawton Green is joined by left-back Ewan Wilson and central defenders Sam Campbell, Logan Dunachie and Ali Gould.

In midfield, Adam MacDonald, Kian Speirs and Daniel Hunter all make the step up after rising through from the early age groups.

Forwards Corey O’Donnell and Cody McLeod featured for the first team in the friendly at Dumbarton on Saturday, and turn professional this summer alongside fellow attackers Muhammad Adam and Richard Tambwe.

“We’re delighted for all the boys stepping up and signing professional terms,” Motherwell’s academy director Steven Hammell said.

“We’re excited to see what they have to offer. Every single one of them have plenty of motivation as how their careers can now progress at this club.

“It’s over to them now to continue their development. With the coaching on offer and the people around them who can help them succeed, we’re hopeful they will now show the attitude and application to take their chance.”

Three Motherwell loanees were in action at the weekend.

Ross MacIver started for Morton in their televised Friday night Championship fixture at home to Hearts.

The forward played 75 minutes as the Edinburgh side ran out 2-0 winners.

PJ Morrison continued his run of form for Falkirk in League One, as the Bairns defeated Peterhead 2-1 to open a four-point gap at the top of the division.

Cove Rangers’ 2-1 home loss to Montrose contributed to opening that gap, with Jamie Semple coming on for the final 15 minutes.

PJ Morrison faced arguably the toughest test of his young career at the weekend.

The goalkeeper, performing well for League One leaders Falkirk on loan, found himself pitched against a rampant Rangers team in the Betfred Cup last 16.

In the end, the Glasgow side ran out 4-0 winners but valuable experience was gained against Jermaine Defoe and company.

Elsewhere, Jamie Semple was an unused sub for Cove Rangers in their 1-1 draw at Airdrie, while Sam Muir was also on the bench as Gretna won 1-0 against Berwick Rangers.

Ross MacIver’s Greenock Morton weren’t in action at the weekend, while Harry Robinson remains on the sidelines.

It was the clash of two loanees at the weekend, as PJ Morrison’s Falkirk hosted Jamie Semple’s Cove Rangers in a top-of-the-table clash.

The goalkeeper would prevail with a clean sheet in a 1-0 victory, with Semple coming off the bench with 20 minutes to go but unable to breach the goal of his team-mate.

Calumn Morrison’s goal early in the second half ended Cove’s 100% start to the League One season, with Falkirk now moving to within a point of them with five games played.

PJ has now kept three clean sheets in four starts for the Bairns, starting off impressively in his loan spell.

Ross MacIver got 90 minutes for Morton in their 0-0 draw at Arbroath, a result which leaves them one point off the promotion play-off places.

Harry Robinson remains sidelined, while Sam Muir saw Gretna’s game at Penicuik Athletic postponed due to a waterlogged pitch.

Motherwell’s young loanees have been in action across the international break.

With Betfred Cup and Lowland League matches continuing, there was a chance for the four fit players to get valuable game time. Harry Robinson is currently injured.

Ross MacIver

The forward got a big goal for his club Greenock Morton in the Renfrewshire Derby match with St Mirren.

The game – the first of two Betfred Cup ties for the Ton – saw the player climb off the bench in the 60th minute and then score immediately to level the tie at 1-1.

He also scored his penalty in the shootout for a bonus point in the group stage fixture, but his side lost out 6-5.

Ross’ award would be a start in the crucial trip to face Partick Thistle in the final match, where a win could potentially send the Championship team through to the knockout stages.

However, a 0-0 draw and a loss in the shootout would ensure they finished fourth in their group.

Jamie Semple

A trip to Dundee in Cove Rangers’ penultimate group stage match would prove a stern test, even for a side flying high in League One.

Jamie played the first 45 minutes as his team went in 1-0 down at the break, before eventually succumbing to a 3-0 loss through two goals in the last five minutes.

An appearance from the bench with 25 minutes left would come next for the midfielder in their final home match with Forfar Athletic.

Rory McAllister’s penalty two minutes after Semple’s introduction would prove the difference, but Cove’s elimination from the competition was already secured.

A trip to face Falkirk – and come face to face with fellow loanee PJ Morrison – lies in wait this weekend.

PJ Morrison

Falkirk had one remaining Betfred Cup match over the international period – a trip to face fellow League One side Dumbarton.

Victory would put the Bairns in with the chance of progression to the knockout stages as an unseeded team and they did exactly that, routing the Sons 4-0.

The win would give PJ the clean sheet, to add to his penalty save in the 2-2 draw at Partick Thistle last weekend. And the reward for progression for Falkirk was a home tie with Rangers in the last 16.

Sam Muir

A win and a defeat would come for Gretna 2008 in the Lowland League, defeating Caledonian Braves 5-0 away and then losing 1-0 at Civil Service Strollers.

Central defender Sam was an unused sub for the game against the Braves, before coming on for the last five minutes in the second match.

PJ Morrison continues to impress at Falkirk, saving a penalty in their 2-2 draw with Partick Thistle on Saturday.

The on-loan Motherwell goalkeeper kept out Brian Graham’s spot kick early on at Firhill, beating away the powerful effort to keep the Bairns 1-0 in front.

Morrison would be helpless to prevent the two goals the Jags would go on to score, before his side got a late leveller to take a share of the spoils.

Ross MacIver was an unused substitute for Morton in their 5-0 loss at Championship leaders Raith Rovers, while Harry Robinson was absent from Queen of the South’s 1-1 draw with Arbroath.

In League One, Jamie Semple was on the bench as Cove Rangers maintained their 100% record through four games with a 3-0 home win over Forfar Athletic.

Ross MacIver was in the thick of the action as Morton pulled off the result of the weekend amongst the Motherwell loanees.

His side found themselves 2-0 down at home to Ayr United, with the forward introduced in the 69th minute.

Morton then started their comeback in the 83rd, with MacIver setting up the equaliser an excellent through ball, before his side pulled off a 3-2 win in the 88th minute.

Harry Robinson played the last 15 minutes as Queen of the South lost 3-2 at Championship leaders Dunfermline Athletic.

The winger came on as Queens chased the equaliser but couldn’t avoid their third defeat of the season.

PJ Morrison made his first start in goal for Falkirk as they took in East Fife in League One.

The ‘keeper kept a clean sheet as his side picked up their second win of the campaign in a 2-0 victory.

Jamie Semple was an unused substitute as Cove kept up their 100% record in League One with a 1-0 home win over Partick Thistle, and Sam Muir got the full 90 as Gretna lost 1-0 at Edinburgh University in the Lowland League.