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Daily Record
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Paul Thomson

Motherwell upturn has to be more than 'new manager bounce', says Paul McGinn

Paul McGinn insists their upturn in performances and results under Stuart Kettlewell has to be more than a new manager bounce.

And he is confident it will be, now that the Steelmen have some consistency within the team selection.

The 32-year-old made light of the fact he has played all over the pitch for the Steelmen this season as they struggled with injuries at the turn of the year.

But McGinn believes the wins over St Mirren and Hearts under Kettlewell during his week in caretaker charge must be built upon now the 38-year-old has been appointed on a permanent basis.

One key to that, McGinn believes, is keeping together a so far successful partnership with new signings Callum Butcher and Dan Casey in a new-look back three under Kettlewell.

He said: "With the old manager we didn't have the luck [with injuries], especially in defence.

"We had a different defence every week. I think I played every position, bar up front and in goal.

"Luck does play a big part in it and we've had a settled defence for the first time in who knows how long?

"Hopefully we can stay together for a while.

Motherwell's Paul McGinn and Hearts' Stephen Humphrys battle for possession as the sides clashed at Fir Park (SNS Group)

"The confidence that the wins give you makes the games slightly easier and hopefully we can keep the run going.

"We can't have it being a [new manager] bounce, it needs to be more than that.

"We've had the same shape and same personnel building up connections. We weren't able to do that for a while and it makes a big difference.

"If you watch the best teams they are not chopping and changing all the time. To have that continuity has made a big difference."

On his partnership with ex-Dundee United man Butcher and Casey - who had spent the past two years in America with Sacramento Republic - he added: "Fair play to them because they've not played a lot of football, those two.

"Butch is very experienced so you expect it from him, but Dan has been playing in America and he's not had a pre-season so it

"He is on the left side as well and he's right-footed so that speaks volumes for him."

Motherwell brought in nine new signings during the transfer window and McGinn admits that brought a lot of upheaval, which he believes has now passed.

He said: "We did have a big turnover in players so a lot of people have been settling in, getting flats sorted, personal lives sorted and I think they are a lot more comfortable now.

"I think towards the end of the window, the results and the games came at a bad time when people were trying to settle in, whereas now I think if you talk to them, they feel more comfortable."

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. remarkable how well he has done.

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