A goal scorer has been the obvious missing link in Ian Baraclough’s January signing spree and there is delight that one of our favourite old boys has returned. His arrival may go some way to appeasing troubled shareholders ahead of tonight’s (Thursday) AGM.
News of the possibility of the signing grew as the day progressed but certainty only arrived when the 32 year old put pen to paper. The Record got a quote from him as he made his way north having been released by Millwall. "It's been six years since I left Celtic and to be honest I have missed so many things about life in Scotland. Motherwell was where it all started for me early in my career so I have a huge amount of affection for the club. It just feels like the right time for me to go back.”
"The team is in a difficult situation at this present moment and my job for the next 12 weeks is to do everything I can to help get them out of trouble. I can't wait to get started."
McDonald opened first stint with Motherwell as a late substitute in a Scottish Cup fourth round tie at McDiarmid Park in January 2004. Butcher had thwarted Clarkson’s attempt to complete a second consecutive hat-trick with the late change but the wee striker (with an eerie likeness to Arnott in stature) impressed and scored the third goal of the game.
His fame to the wider world related to the ‘Helicopter Sunday’ when Celtic had the championship snatched from their grasp by two late Skippy strikes but his main contribution to Motherwell is clear from his scoring ratio – 45 goals in 108 appearances.
His last game was in a 4-1 drubbing at Dunfermline in May 2007 when he scored from the spot and was red carded to boot and he left to join Celtic for a fee reported to be in excess of £700k.
He will be in the squad for Saturday’s match against Inverness and his appearance may tempt a few more fans into the ground. Another goal (or two) in his second debut would be most welcome!