Mark O’Hara says it is up to Motherwell to decide whether they want a memorable or mediocre season.
While without a Premiership win in 10 matches, Graham Alexander’s side could book a trip to Hampden with a Scottish Cup quarter-final win over Hibs at Fir Park this Sunday. They are eighth in the league and a point off fourth.
It’s been 31 years since Motherwell’s last piece of silverware, the 1991 Scottish Cup. O’Hara hasn’t played at Hampden before and he is keen to have that opportunity.
The Easter Road side managed to beat Motherwell on penalties last year at this stage and the midfielder wants to make amends.
He said: “Our destiny is in our hands. We can potentially have a very special season or we can have a mediocre season.
“We need to make sure it’s special. I want to help the team solidify its place in the top six and make it to Hampden which is something I have never done in my career.
“That Hibs game is massive and perhaps a chance at redemption after they put us out at this stage last year. It’s a goal I think for every Scottish player, to make it to Hampden.
"It’s not something I have managed to achieve yet and I would love to do that with Motherwell.”
O’Hara is currently vying for a new contract at Fir Park after a year’s worth of various injury problems. While showing promising signs since his return from a quad injury, the battler hasn’t been offered fresh terms.
He initially joined Motherwell on loan from Peterborough in 2019 and signed a permanent deal a year later.
O’Hara added: “This is my third season now. It’s been strange as when you say three seasons, that sounds like quite a lot of time. But obviously one season was disrupted by Covid, then last season was different in terms of there were no fans.
“This season has now been disrupted by injury. I think I have somewhere around 60 appearances and I have enjoyed every minute of it.
“I know that is an old cliché but I genuinely have loved my time here. Hopefully there’s more to come. I have felt pretty settled since I got here.
“I am out of contract at the end of the season. With the way the situation was when I was injured, it was difficult to set any long-term goals.
“My goal was to just get playing first and foremost and then just let the football take care of itself. I have not been offered anything as such yet but I am obviously trying to play well to earn it.
“I feel as if I have to make up for lost time and between now and the end of the season, I want to perform as well as I can and help earn team success.”
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