Stuart Kettlewell was delighted to bring a former striker back to Motherwell as he looks to bolster his injury-ravaged squad.

The Fir Park head coach has signed Tony Watt from Dundee United on a season-long loan.

Watt, 30, departed the Steelmen in January 2022 having scored 19 goals from 70 appearances across a two year period.

He went on to have a mixed stay at Dundee United, where he recently fell down the pecking order under Jim Goodwin. 

Kettlewell claims the centre-forward, who is out of contract next summer, is fit and ready to go despite not playing a competitive match since May, with this acquisition providing the Motherwell manager a much-needed attacking option, given he's currently without eight first team players due to injury.

“If you look at Tony’s record, he is available to play all the time,” Kettlewell said.

“He is a player who has done well here with goals and strong performances. We jumped at the chance to bring him back to Fir Park and Tony himself was desperate to return.

“Tony had lots of other options, both home and abroad, but he was fixated on coming back here.”


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Watt understands not everyone in the Motherwell fan base will be particularly pleased about his return, but vowed to do all he can to win them back over this season. 

The way the one-time Celtic hero left the club left many fans unhappy, and tensions escalated when Watt celebrated his inaugural goal for United right in front of the Motherwell supporters at Tannadice, following some harsh remarks from the travelling crowd.

“It’s so good to be back in the building,” a defiant Watt told Motherwell's official website.

“I was itching to join Motherwell again and can’t wait to get stuck in.

“There’s obviously people who may not be too happy to see me back. I need to prove myself here and get people back on my side but that target is firmly set in my mind.

"I feel fit. I’ve been training and I have a full pre-season under my belt.”