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Paul Thomson

Motherwell's Stuart McKinstry idolised Louis Moult as a boy, now he'll share a pitch with him

Motherwell's Stuart McKinstry admits it is going to be surreal to share a dressing room with a player he idolised as a youngster.

But he hopes Louis Moult's return can herald more magic moments for the club, just like the ones he grew up on as a fan.

The 19-year-old winger from Wishaw watched from the stands as Moult guided his boyhood heroes to two cup finals in the 2017/18 season, where he bagged a particularly memorable brace to knock Rangers out of the League Cup semi-finals at Hampden.

Moult also grabbed a winner over Celtic at Parkhead in December 2015 to earn another famous win for the Steelmen.

A few years later, Moult is now back at the club and, intriguingly, the Steelmen have been drawn at home to Celtic in the League Cup quarter-finals next month.

McKinstry is back at Fir Park himself after joining on loan from Leeds United, the club he left Motherwell's academy for in 2019.

So it's a lot to take in now that he is rubbing shoulders with a club hero.

He said: "It's strange to have Louis here. Last time I watched a game that he played in I was in the stands as a fan.

"So for his next game, for me to be on the pitch with him, would be a bit strange but I know what he can do.

"I've seen him do it on many occasions.

"He scores big goals in big games and I'm just hoping he can replicate it this time around.

"I remember the goals against Rangers in the League Cup semi-final, goals against Celtic as well.

"Those are the ones that really come to mind, but he's done it many more times and I hope he can do it again.

(SNS Group)

"We're not quite talking posters on the wall because I was a bit old for that by the time he was here, but I was a big fan of him.

"I was just thinking the other day that i've got wee cousins who idolised him as well so it's great to have a player like this back at the club, and the boost it has given to the fans is massive."

Amidst all the Moult fanfare, McKinstry made his first league appearance for the Steelmen yesterday in the 0-0 draw with Dundee United, which followed hot on the heels of his debut in the cup win over Inverness.

McKinstry left Motherwell for Leeds in summer 2019 but he has returned on loan (SNS Group)

He replaced Joe Efford after 73 minutes and found it hard to fathom how 'Well didn't walk away winners.

The Steelmen dominated Dundee United but Kevin van Veen had a penalty saved, while the Dutchman also hit the crossbar and saw a late effort deflected wide.

"I can't believe we didn't win the game," he said. "We created so many chances.

"On another day it could have been 4-0 like the other night, but it's a performance we can definitely move on with and improve on.

"I think if we play like that every week, we'll be fine.

"The performance in itself is good enough to beat anyone else in the league if we take the chances we created.

"If we can be a bit better in the final third, the goals will come."

While baffled by the result, he was pleased to get more minutes under his belt as he targets at starting slot.

He said: "It's been a mad week for me.

"It was a dream come true the other night playing my first game and now I've got more minutes, so I hope I can keep working hard to show the manager what I can do to try and get myself in the team.

"That's what I came here to do, help the team in any way I can and show what I can do on the pitch.

"It's something I'm looking forward to.

"It will be a hard challenge. We are playing well as a team so I'm not just going to walk into the starting 11.

"But I'm going to work my hardest to make that happen."

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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