IN terms of shoes to fill, Carl McHugh has a job on his hands.
Taking over as captain at a football club is a role not without its responsibilities or nerves, especially when you look at the man you are replacing.
McHugh doesn’t need to glance far. While he shuffles an armband up his sleeve for the first time next month, the sight of Keith Lasley standing as Motherwell’s assistant manager will be there to provide inspiration.
For his manager Stephen Robinson, there is no such fears about entrusting McHugh with taking over from the 37-year-old, who retired earlier this week 18 years after his Fir Park journey began.
The Irishman only joined Motherwell last summer and in his first Premiership match suffered a horrific head wound that kept him out for almost half the campaign. It was a blow that could have ended his career.
Despite that, he came roaring back into the fold to become the Lanarkshire side’s rock to cling to when relegation waters got rough, eventually helping to steer them to safety. And it’s this very character which Robinson believes made him the natural successor to his new No.2
“I have identified a new captain. Carl McHugh epitomises everything I want at this football club,” said the Northern Irishman.
“His passion, his desire, his never-say-die attitude. He will be the one who leads this club forward and for me it was a no-brainer, especially with his performances towards the end of the season.
“Steven Hammell will be the vice captain so we retain that experience and that Motherwell identity. Between the two of them it’s something that excites me and Carl will be delighted.”
McHugh’s adaptability was a major factor in Motherwell’s top-flight status remaining intact. The central midfielder stepped into the breach to fill a central defensive void left by the injury to Stephen McManus, and it was here that he was consistently Robinson’s most steady and reliable performer.
Even though it was a role he excelled in, Robinson chuckled when commenting on McHugh’s desire to move back to his traditional berth in central midfield.
“He’s a midfielder in his mind,” laughed his manager. “That remains to be seen. But he gives us fantastic flexibility.
“He’s fantastic at centre half but he prefers it in midfield, as midfielders always do. But he gives us that option. Ideally he will be playing in midfield because I think we missed him last season when he wasn’t playing.”
It was revealed yesterday that Motherwell have been drawn to face Rangers at Fir Park in the opening match of the new Premiership season. After a whirlwind start to the summer, Robinson is optimistic.
“I’m very happy with the business that’s been done. We set our targets early on and got most of them and that doesn’t usually happen at Motherwell,” he said.
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