Motherwell won't settle for second best against Freiburg amid 'freak' injuries as star details comeback bid

The experienced defender made his first appearance of the season in Thursday’s 3-1 play-off first leg defeat at Fir Park as boss Alfred Johansson juggles several injury concerns. Right-back options Johnny Koutroumbis, Tom Sparrow and Paul McGinn all missed the Freiburg game with others like Oscar Priestman, Dylan Williams, Eythor Bjorgolfsson, Apostolos Stamatelopoulos, Callum Hendry and Jordan McGhee also missing.

Regan Charles-Cook - who netted the opener - was subbed at half-time with a knock in a game where Motherwell competed well against May’s Europa League runners-up. Injuries haven’t helped the situation, but as they seek an epic turnaround to reach to the league phase of the Conference League, O’Donnell isn’t content with just performing well despite odds being stacked against them.

Stephen O’Donnell on Freiburg vs Motherwell

“I don't think you want to be setting for just competing with them, “ said O’Donnell. “So I do think we can be better. I think that's where we strived from last season and this season to be punching above our weight. That's where we want to be. We have a brand, we have a style that we're sticking with. And can we be better? Yeah, we can.

“But yeah, it was a big performance against a big side. You know there's going to be spells, you're going to have to suffer. Ideally, we maybe just don't suffer without the ball quite as much. But again, as I said, this team had no right back. We had no right back tonight. Freak incidents.

“You have all these great plans for trying to manage minutes for boys because we are threadbare. You're rolling boys out and on a big occasion with an exceptional crowd, I'd better add. But to go and perform at their best and it's hard, but they did. They delivered everything they could. And as I said, hopefully with a week off, we will be fresher, we'll be ready and in a far stronger position than we were.”

What injury did Stephen O’Donnell pick up?

O’Donnell picked up his injury that’s lasted over a month in a friendly with Danish side AGF during early July. There were some early concerns over severity and it’s left the veteran gutted he couldn’t play any part in previous Conference qualifiers against HB Torshavn and HJK Helsinki.

“Yes, it was in that game, so I came back on with it, I didn't realise it was that,” explained the former Scotland international. “It was my shin I was worried about at the time. We were flying home the next day and I was limping about going, what's going on here? So it wasn't great. But look, again, it's football. These things will happen.

“I think what's more positive is it was an impact injury because you can't really help impact. So that's just football. I’m just delighted to be back and again, a wee bit to go yet to be fully fit. But a wee 15, 20 minutes. I will try and work hard, to do everything I can going into the Freiburg away. . It was pretty devastating, I think, when it happened within reason. It wasn't as bad as it could have been. When your knee's involved, it always can be a bit messier. But it's the first time I've ever damaged my knee and it certainly was frustrating at the timing.”