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Daily Record
Daily Record
Sport
Andy McGilvray

Tony Watt is away, it's up to other strikers to step up, says Well boss Graham Alexander

Graham Alexander says it's up to existing Motherwell strikers to stake their claim to replace Tony Watt now that a fee has been agreed with Dundee United.

Alexander says Kevin van Veen, Connor Shields, Jordan Roberts, Justin Amaluzor and new signing Ross Tierney will slug it out between them, and he sees no need to bring in a 'replacement' for Watt.

Whoever steps up, Alexander will hope they start banging them in when his side tackles Ross County in Dingwall this evening.

He said: "Kevin has been unfortunate because I think the first part of the season has been a little bit stop-start with injury and suspension and he understands what we want from the team now, what we want from each individual.

"We know 100 per cent he's capable of that, so we just need to keep him as fit as possible. We know what a top player he is.

"Connor Shields has been working exceptionally hard to get his opportunity, he's had his opportunity as well and scored, and we have Jordan Roberts back, which is a big one for us as well.

"We have Justin who has got up to speed with how we do things here, we've brought Ross Tierney in from Ireland, so we feel we've got some really good options in those forward areas.

Kevin van Veen has hit seven goals in a stop-start season so far (SNS Group)

"We feel with how we play, the tactical side of it, how we approach games, we will continue to score goals and win games, but each individual adds into that.

"Every player who has played for us this season has played their part in our results, and that's how I see the game, how I see us going forward.

"I think our philosophy, our approach, has always got to be about the team, it's the team that wins games, and that will never change while I'm the manager.

"It's how I see football, if it's about individuals we'd be playing tennis or snooker. We play a team sport and it's always about the team."

Fourth-placed Motherwell taking on County in 10th might seem like an unbalanced match-up to some, but Alexander expects a tough time in the Highlands and says his side will need to earn anything they bring back to Lanarkshire.

He said: "I said earlier in the season, when we beat Ross County here, that at that point it was probably our toughest game of the season.

Connor Shields has scored once, in a 2-0 win over Hearts in November (SNS Group)

"I felt they were better than their results were showing and I think they've proved that over the last couple of months.

"We're under no illusions that it will be a tough game for us, but I think we've done good things this season as well.

"I think every team that's come up against us has known they've been in a competitive game, and they've had to earn anything they've won against us that has to be the case tonight.

"The players are in good form, we don't feel the break will hinder that. I think we've trained exceptionally hard, in the meantime, to make sure we keep those standards up.

Ross Tierney has come in from Irish side Bohemians (Motherwell FC)

"We're aware of the task. Every Premiership game is against really good opponents, good players, managers and tactics. The challenge is always there in every game, and we've been up for that challenge every time."

Alexander says he's still missing a few players, but have "certainly got enough to pick a good team and a strong bench", adding that Tierney and loan signing Liam Shaw from Celtic will be included in the squad.

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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