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Motherwell 'sense a lot of interest from agents' as ex Wolves star arrives ahead of Conference League crunch Motherwell are preparing for the second leg of their Conference League third round qualifier versus HJK. Motherwell manager Alfred Johansson senses the Fir Park club are now an attractive proposition for players as they prepare for their Conference League showdown versus HJK Helsinki. The Premiership side have spent an undisclosed fee to sign former Wolves midfielder Joe Hodge after a season in the Portuguese top flight with Tondela. He comes to Scotland with impressive pedigree, coming through the Manchester City youth academy, and making 13 senior appearances for Wolves alongside Huddersfield Town and QPR stints. Johansson’s side host their Finnish opponent on Thursday in a third round qualifier second leg after a 1-1 draw away from home last week, entry to the Conference League gained last season after a fourth placed finish, while playing eye-catching football under Jens Berthel Askou. With Johansson’s predecessor Askou, Elijah Just, Elliot Watt and more clinching big moves after their success last term, the former Rosenborg boss says Motherwell have had several agents circling them, with stars keen to play football in North Lanarkshire. Why do players want to sign for Motherwell? “We sense a lot of interest from agents who want to move their players here,” explained Johansson. “And when I speak to Nick Daws (Motherwell’s head of football) and everyone else at the club that’s been a shift over the past couple of years. Now, football people out there recognise that this is a good place for young players or middle aged players to develop and progress their careers. “Some players that maybe don’t fit in other ways of playing but they fit really well here. Obviously, that’s something we should be proud of and every Motherwell supporter should be really proud of. I was in a meeting with Nick and a potential signing - maybe a week ago - and that player had been talking to other players who had been here. Even if it had been a player who didn’t play here - maybe had just been on the bench - he was still complimentary about Motherwell. “And this was before me, so I had nothing to do with it. But he was very complimentary of how the people are behaving here and how they are looking after each other at the club. And that’s not very usual when it’s from players who have been sat on the bench. There’s a lot of good things going on that everyone has to be proud of. I’m proud of what we’re doing. I’m impressed by what the club have been doing for the last couple of years.” Motherwell on HJK Helsinki match Motherwell will be boosted by Ibrahim Said’s return to their European squad after missing last week’s match in the Finnish capital due to visa issues. Left-back Dylan Williams remains out as the Steelmen look to book a spot in the play-off round with 2026 Europa League finalists Freiburg. “I’m not afraid of this, I feel that the players are so locked in and focused and they want to do well,” Johansson said on the Helsinki return leg. “And with the cards we have in our hands we will try to do our best and try to see if we can make this happen. But I’m not worried about that. The guys, they will give absolutely everything. We need all our good players and Ibrahim has had a really strong impact on the team and the start to the season, so it’s massive he can play.” Martin Moormann has impressed at left-sided centre-back since arriving at Motherwell from Austrian side BW Linz. He gained European experience at Rapid Vienna earlier in his career, and can’t wait to sample it again at a packed Fir Park, after marking his debut with a long-range goal versus HB Torshavn in Conference qualification round two. “I think the fans, the crowd who will be here, it will help us a lot,” added Moormann. “They'll give us maybe an extra push. Hopefully, they'll give us an extra push. But I think home games are always, especially international, are different. Maybe a little bit easier. We know that it was a hard game last week so we need to be completely focused on the game. In all the games in recent weeks, we have had a few good moments. We have had a few good moments but also moments where we need to improve.” Comments Want to join the conversation? Please or to comment on this article.