Motherwell Faces Further Injury Setback with Tom Sparrow Sidelined

Motherwell has encountered another injury challenge as midfielder Tom Sparrow is expected to be unavailable until the new year. The midfielder continued playing despite an ankle issue during last week’s loss against Ross County, and his recovery period will commence when Motherwell hosts Hibernian this Saturday. Manager Stuart Kettlewell commented: “Tom sustained an ankle injury in the first minute of the game on Saturday, as it turns out.” Kettlewell further explained the prognosis: “So we reckon, based on the scan, that he’s going to be out for a minimum of a month, which is a real blow.” He also acknowledged Sparrow’s contributions this season, stating: “He’s obviously pitched in with a couple of goals this season, kind of getting himself up to speed, found himself in our team.” While Harry Paton is regaining fitness after being out for much of the past nine months due to two ankle injuries, Sparrow’s absence adds him to an expanding roster of players facing extended time off, which includes Sam Nicholson, Callum Slattery, and Ross Callachan. Kettlewell reflected on the team’s ongoing situation: “We have found ourselves in a position where, since the very first game of the season, we’ve constantly had to work towards the profile of player that we have available.” He noted that this has hindered consistency: “That hasn’t allowed us to play a certain way, week in, week out, have that level of consistency, which I would always look for.” Despite the difficulties, he added: “But within that, there’s been some good performances, there’s been some good results. So from my side, it’s always trying to find the best formula for what you’ve got available to you.” During the 2-1 defeat in Dingwall, Kettlewell was unable to start Tawanda Maswanhise because the in-form goalscorer experienced delays returning from his international duty with Zimbabwe. Additionally, Tony Watt missed the game due to a back spasm, an issue that has since resolved. Kettlewell expressed his thoughts on Maswanhise’s absence: “I think that everybody will understand that Tawanda would have been one of the names at the forefront of my mind going to play against Ross County.” He conveyed optimism for Maswanhise’s return to form, stating: “But he now settles back in and he has a week’s training. We’ll hopefully get him to the stage where he was at against the likes of Dundee United, where he’s grabbing a couple of goals and being a real handful.”