Stuart Kettlewell reckons being versatile will be key to maintaining Motherwell's surge up the Premiership table and securing safety this season.
The new gaffer, who was officially appointed as Steven Hammell's successor on a 16-month deal, has landed his first management role since he was sacked by Ross County in December 2020 when the team were cut adrift at the bottom of the Premiership.
He has been tasked with guiding Motherwell out of a similar situation, with the side involved in a four-way relegation fight with his old club County, Dundee United and Saturday's opponents, Kilmarnock.
But he believes he has learned valuable lessons in his time out of that environment and he says he wants his charges to demonstrate the attributes he held in his playing career at the likes of County, Clyde and Queen's Park.
Asked what values he would like his team to hold, Kettlewell said: "I was probably the guy as a player who would have the best attitude you would come across.
"My energy levels, my aggression, my will for a fight - and I mean that as what is your case and will you thrust yourself fully into that.
"That has always been my nature.
"Yes, I would love to see us playing free-flowing football, creating chances and all the rest of it.
"But the fundamental part of it - your work ethic and coming into training on time, coming in with a purpose to do well every day, coming in to show that you want to get into that starting 11 - those are all massive things.
"That's how I was as a player and that's how I expect players to work under me.
"In a football sense, my philosophy is to be versatile because I think if you work with the absolute top players and your Man Citys who dominate 80 per cent of the ball, you can be very clever in terms of your structure and your setup.
"If you don't dominate the ball for 80 per cent, you are working with good players but not the absolute top, so it is my job to find the best fit and best way.
"That way changes from week to week, depending on opponents, where you are playing, quality of the pitch and all the rest of it.
"In terms of what I've learned in the last 20 months [out of management], that has possibly been my biggest learning curve over that period."
Kettlewell steps up from his role as lead development manager at Fir Park, which he only started in October.
And, much like his predecessor, he will gladly turn to the up-and-coming academy prospects if they prove they are ready to make an impact on the first team.
The 38-year-old added: "I genuinely believe I will put young players in.
"My path has shown that. I trust young players and I wouldn't be scared to take a senior player out and bring a young player in.
"But they have to believe that in a shorter term they will become a better player. If they are stepping forward in first team sessions and showing they are capable under my guidance, they will be given the opportunity.
"They need to prove they can play at that level and if they are, I'm certainly a guy who would pitch them in."
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.
