Motherwell midfielder Mark O'Hara is desperate to get back into action at Fir Park - and turned down moves away from the club to make it happen.
Manager Graham Alexander has been left delighted after the midfielder returned to training in the last week. He was reported to have damaged his thigh.
O'Hara hasn't had much luck with injury since Alexander arrived as Fir Park boss last January. He missed three months of 2021 with a concussion injury.
Then he suffered a muscle injury in pre-season and has so far played 10 games in the Premiership this term, his last outing coming against Aberdeen in November.
Alexander said of his squad prior to a Premiership match with Dundee United at Tannadice on Wednesday: "The squad is looking pretty good.
"We have Ricki Lamie and Mark O'Hara back out on the grass this week which is a positive.
"Everybody from the weekend is fit and Liam Shaw is back in after not being able to play against his parent club, Celtic, on Sunday. So the squad is looking quite healthy."
Some clubs approached Motherwell over the availability of O'Hara in the January transfer window, which he turned down. It pleased his boss that a desire to play minutes in claret and amber was apparent.
Alexander's aim now is to get the midfielder back on the pitch: "It has been stop-start for him since I have been here really. I don't think he's played more than three or four games on the bounce.
"He's been really unfortunate in difference scenarios. He's picked up different injuries, contact ones and muscular. He's been back in training the last few days.
"He looked great in training yesterday (Monday) and he was flying around. That was great. I spoke to him in January as a couple of clubs wanted to take him.
"He decided he wanted to stay here and fight for his place. That was brilliant for me to hear as we know how good a player Mark is.
"But it's been difficult to actually get him a run of games going through unfortunate circumstances. The more good players we have, the stronger our squad is, as we are going to need everybody for our points tally."
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