Motherwell manager Stuart Kettlewell has cautioned that Nathan McGinley’s return to the training pitch is just a small step on his long road back to fitness.
Left-back McGinley has not played since March 13 last year but was pictured running last week.
Motherwell have deliberately not disclosed what the left-back’s problem has been, although he made an aborted comeback in pre-season training.
The 26-year-old has a further season left on his contract but his chances of being fit for the start of next term appear slim.
Speaking ahead of Saturday’s visit of Ross County, Kettlewell said: “It’s nice to see Nathan back out on the park, it’s been a really, really tough struggle for him. He is out doing some very, very light work on the pitch.
“Fourteen months out the game is an awfully long time and from what I hear from Nathan, the medical team and the sports science guys, there is a substantial amount of time that has to come now in terms of that build-up, and that’s provided there is no hiccup.
“It’s not just a case of getting back on the park and he is available for selection or able to go straight into pre-season, there is an awful lot of work that has to go in to build Nathan up before he can go back into training sessions.
“The first step is there but we hadn’t got him on the park even to do light running during that 14 months, so that is a massive step, and it was really nice to see him come back on the park and get a round of applause from the players. I really hope he can kick on in the coming weeks and months.”
Motherwell have had to rely on loan left-backs this season after Jake Carroll suffered a serious knee injury early in the campaign.
“Jake has still not been back on the park,” Kettlewell said. “Jake is out of contract, I spoke to him the other day.
“The medical care he has had has been terrific and the access he has had to the medical guys here and the facilities is great. He knows the football club is doing everything it possibly can to get him back out there playing.”
Another long-term absentee, Josh Morris, who has a further year left on his deal, has not featured since November 9 and has not been seen around Fir Park for several months.
Kettlewell said: “Josh has been out with a longer-term injury and I expect there to be confirmation on that situation in the next week or two.”
The Motherwell manager also gave an update on short-term injuries, including Max Johnston, who missed last weekend’s win over St Johnstone.
“Max has got a hamstring niggle,” Kettlewell said. “It’s not a major issue but it kept him out on Saturday and it kept him off the park for a day or two this week as well.
“We will see how he is in the next couple of days to see if he is available for selection.
“Joe Efford has been struggling, Riku Danzaki has been struggling. Ross Tierney and Jon Obika have been incrementing back into training sessions.”
Meanwhile, Kettlewell could provide no clarity on reports from East Anglia that Johnston recently visited Norwich’s training ground with a view to a summer transfer.
The 19-year-old wing-back is out of contract and Kettlewell has “offered him the best deal that’s on offer”.
“I would expect if someone was visiting another football club that there would be some sort of dialogue there,” the Well boss said.
“There’s been absolutely no dialogue from Max, his representatives or anything like that to tell us that was happening.”
Martino resigns as Inter Miami coach after early playoff exit
Gerardo Martino has resigned as Inter Miami's head coach due to personal reasons, the MLS side have confirmed.
The Argentine ends his 17-month stint in charge of the Herons following their MLS Cup exit just under a fortnight ago.
Martino, who oversaw Miami's Leagues Cup triumph soon after his arrival last season, guided the franchise to this year's Supporters' Shield with a regular-season record tally of 74 points.
However, they were eliminated by his former side Atlanta United in round one of the MLS Cup playoffs.
Miami opened their best-of-three series against Atlanta with a 2-1 win, only to lose by the same scoreline in Game 2 before falling to a dramatic 3-2 defeat in the decider.
“It has been an honour to work at such a special club, and to lead such a special team," Martino said.
"I’ve enjoyed my stay at Inter Miami and will treasure the memories made and relationships forged here for the rest of my life.
"I depart with nothing but gratitude for my time here and would like to offer sincere thanks to everyone that made it possible."
Fonseca: Milan have 'respect' but 'are not afraid' of Juventus
Paulo Fonseca said Milan have plenty of "respect" for Juventus, but his side "are not afraid" of their rivals ahead of their Serie A clash on Saturday.
After a slow start to the season, Milan are six points adrift of Juventus in the table, but only a place behind them, as they aim to make up the ground on the top six.
The Rossoneri have played a game less than Thiago Motta's side, and could catapult themselves back into the Scudetto picture with a win this weekend.
Milan return to the San Siro for the first time since a 2-0 defeat to Napoli at the end of October, and could register two consecutive home defeats in Serie A for the first time since between October and November in 2023.
"It is not decisive, but it is important, like all of them," Fonseca told reporters ahead of Saturday's game.
"I can't say that the game against Juve is more important than the next one against Empoli because we need consecutive victories.
"It's a different game, but I always think positively. We are Milan, we have a lot of respect for the 'Bianconeri', but we are not afraid. We are here ready to win."
A boost for Milan is that Juventus will be without top scorer Dusan Vlahovic for Saturday's clash after returning from international duty with a muscle problem.
Despite the Serbian's absence, Fonseca was aware of the danger his probable replacement, Timothy Weah, would pose, having managed him during his time at Lille.
"Juve knows how to adapt very well. I don't know if Weah will play," Fonseca said.
"Weah is very fast and attacks deep, not like Vlahovic. It will not be the same thing of course.
"We will have to pay attention to movements in depth and less to support work, because he is a player who does less of this job."
While Fonseca has endured a stuttering start to his tenure at the San Siro, Milan have shown they have the ability to match the very best.
They beat rivals Inter in October before stunning Real Madrid at the Bernabeu in their last Champions League encounter, keeping their play-off hopes alive.
"I believe it's a matter of motivation and not pressure," Fonseca said.
"Against Inter, Juve and Real it is easy to be motivated, it's more difficult to go to Cagliari and have the same motivation.
"Pressure is always with us, every day. If we don't want to have pressure, then we shouldn't be here."
'Right guy at the right time' - Amorim confident of changing Man Utd's fortunes
Ruben Amorim believes he is the "right guy at the right time" to turn Manchester United's fortunes around.
The 39-year-old signed a two-and-a-half-year deal earlier this month to keep him at Old Trafford until June 2027, replacing Erik ten Hag after he was sacked in October.
Amorim is the sixth permanent United manager since Alex Ferguson retired in 2013, having left Sporting CP to take charge during the international break.
He won two Primeira Liga titles as Sporting head coach as well as two Taca da Liga trophies, while he led the club to a perfect start in the league this season, winning all 11 of their games.
United sit 13th in the Premier League table ahead of their trip to Ipswich Town on 15 points, though they are just four points behind Chelsea in third.
Amorim recognised the size of the task ahead of him in Manchester but is confident he can make a change.
"I'm a little bit of a dreamer and I believe in myself, and I believe in the club," he said during his first press conference.
"I think we have the same idea, the same mindset and that can help.
"I truly believe in the players; I know you don't believe a lot, but I do. I want to try new things. You guys don't think it's possible, I do.
"Call me naive, but I believe I am the right guy at the right time. I truly believe I am the right guy."
Aged 39 years and 302 days, Amorim will be the youngest to take charge of his first match for the Red Devils since Wilf McGuinness in August 1969 (31y 288d).
United have won just four of their 11 league games so far this season, and have struggled in front of goal, netting just 12 times so far.
Expected to implement his favoured 3-4-3 formation, Amorim admitted it would take time for the club to adapt and has asked for patience as the players get used to his tactics.
"I know at Manchester United we have to win games. We need a lot of time because it's a tough league, we have to improve a lot to try to win the title," he added.
"We have to change the physical aspect of the team. I don't know how long it will take."
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