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Daily Record
Daily Record
Sport
Ben Banks

Motherwell star keen to provide fans with European moments like he had in Levante

Motherwell midfielder Dean Cornelius has watched the Steelmen in Europe from the stands - and he's keen to experience it in a playing capacity.

The boyhood 'Well supporter has enjoyed some impressive appearances in claret and amber this season as he makes his senior breakthrough.

It hasn't gone Motherwell's way as a team though in the Premiership this year, and ahead of taking on St Johnstone at McDiarmid Park this afternoon, they haven't won in 10 attempts.

Despite this, they sit one point off fourth and a European spot ahead of three defining matches with Saints, St Mirren and Livingston prior the split.

They sit eighth at present and while they're aware things haven't been good enough in 2022, Cornelius says a push for continental football is still on the cards.

The 20-year-old said: "The boys aren't daft. We know results haven't been great since the turn of the year. All we can do is stay positive and focus on these three games ahead.

"They may be decisive in where we finish this year so all we can do is keep the heads high, keep working away, and hopefully the results come.

"We're only a point off fourth and it's really tight between a lot of the teams. But of course we understand this isn't a position we wanted to be in before the turn of the year.

"The season isn't done and we know that. We can push for top six, and then try for Europe."

Motherwell enjoyed plenty of European trips in the 2010's, with Cornelius travelling to Spain to take in the match with La Liga side Levante during a Europa League play-off match in 2012.

His former peers in the Fir Park stands attended training last weekend ahead of Motherwell's Scottish Cup exit to Hibs, and Cornelius says it's given him even more encouragement to deliver success.

He added: "I am enjoying it. Every game I go out and try to do my best. If I can contribute to the team picking up some points along the way, brilliant.

"I saw a few familiar faces there! It's good as that type of thing gets you up for a game. It was brilliant to see people who you used to go to games with cheering you on.

"They understand my story and where I have come from. I've been there myself as fan. I can remember going to some of the European games as a fan.

"I did Levante. I have great memories and it was completely different experience. For a club of our size, it's a dream."

Follow Lanarkshire Live Sport on Twitter via @LanLiveSport, like us on Facebook or find us on Instagram for the latest sports news, pictures and video.

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