Motherwell to lean on 'young leaders' in Conference League opener as key star ruled out of HB Torshavn clash

The former Rosenborg boss will take charge of the Premiership side for the first time in Thursday’s second round qualifier first leg at Fir Park against Faroese opposition. Elijah Just completed a move to Swansea City for a club-record fee on Wednesday night while other stars of last term like Elliot Watt, Calum Ward, Callum Slattery and Stephen Welsh have already moved on. Tawanda Maswanhise is ruled out of this clash with a jaw injury after fitness was monitored over him, Emmanuel Longelo, Johnny Koutroumbis and Eythor Bjorgolfsson ahead of Torshavn, the quartet missing last Friday’s friendly against Genk.

Skipper Paul McGinn, deputy Stephen O’Donnell, Callum Hendry, Apostolos Stamatelopoulos and Jordan McGhee are out medium to long-term, with Tom Sparrow captaining the club last week. It will be stars like him, new signings and possibly youth academy prospects who will be tasked with getting Motherwell into a third round tie with either Coleraine of Northern Ireland or Finland’s HJK Helsinki next month.

Who have Motherwell signed this summer?

"To be honest, the captaincy has not been a big focus for me the first couple of weeks here,” said Johansson. “For me, Paul and Stephen run that dressing room really, really well. I'm super happy how much responsibility Stephen has been taking on the pitch in the pre-season and how both are taking responsibility off the pitch. Absolutely impressed with both of them in that area. We have other growing leaders like Tom.

“I think he is one of the people that the others can rely on because he's always doing his best. He's always super positive. When he's demanding, he's demanding in a really, really good way. He's a very optimistic person and that transmits to other people. It's positive that we have a guy like him that the others can lean on when Stephen and Paul are not playing. For me, you can call it whatever, interim captain or whatever, but I see we have growing young leaders in this squad."

Motherwell have signed defender Dylan Williams from Burton Albion ahead of this clash and he will be available for selection in a boost for Johansson. He is the latest recruit to be made by the Steelmen including Jake Girdwood-Reich, Martin Moormann, Willy Vogt, and Alex Paulsen. Johansson can see the long-term vision at Fir Park, amid a summer of comings and goings after last term’s impressive fourth-placed finish under predecessor Jens Berthel Askou, with more arrivals expected.

"I think it's difficult to give a number as it's also a little bit based on how many go out, but I'm pretty sure you'll see a couple of new faces before the transfer window closes,” Johansson said. “It's a long-term strategy that the club has and something that I fully support. What I want as a manager is that we get the right people in the door, personality-wise, but also quality-wise. At the same time, as a coach, you obviously would love that when the season starts, everything is done. That's not the reality because the transfer window closes much later.

Motherwell on Conference League clash vs HB Torshavn

"I think if you judge any team after having not even played yet then you might be a little bit far off. I think this is definitely a group of players that will do well on Thursday. They showed against Genk their quality and we've been building the fitness levels of the squad really well together with the staff. I'm pretty sure that we'll do well. Since it's going to be many new faces, some out, some in, therefore, we can also expect that there will be a development throughout the fall with this group.

“My job is ultimately to improve and develop. That's my job. I'm expecting that in two months from now we will be even better than what we are tomorrow. As I always say, development is also non-linear. Sometimes it goes really fast up, and then it can be a speed bump, and then it goes up again. You just have to see development over time, and I'm confident we'll see that. “I love to play in Europe. That's a big ambition and driving motivation for me as a coach. I love that. I would have come here without it because I see the bigger picture here. The club, the strategy, and how I fit into that. I was a big plus, let's call it that, but I would have been here anyways."

Oscar Priestman is one player who remains at Motherwell from last season and the midfielder is a candidate to step into the number six position vacated by Watt’s move to Samunspor. He knows the Torshavn clash is possibly the biggest of his career ahead of a big term one year after his move to Motherwell from Australia’s Western Sydney Wanderers.

“It’s a massive game and probably the most important of my career,” said Priestman. “It’s exciting to kick-off the season this way. We’ve lost quite a few but I think we still have strong players here to build on our performances. Hopefully we can progress even further. I think Elliot had a really good season but I felt I did well when I came in. I just want to build on my minutes now and become a starting player for this team consistently. I feel I have settled in here and now it’s time to show what I can do. Hopefully I can show that this season.”