news-engine

← motherwell

Ibrahim Said backed to be Motherwell's Conference League difference maker

· Scott Burns · 2026-08-12T21:33:22+00:00 · nguồn gốc

Ibrahim Said backed to be Motherwell's Conference League difference maker after missing out on HJK moment Said netted a dramatic late winner against Hibs on the opening weekend of the Premiership season but was unable to play in Finland last week due to a visa issue Alfred Johansson knows fired-up Motherwell star Ibrahim Said will be looking to take out his European frustrations on HJK. The Nigerian missed last week’s draw in Helsinki because of visa issues. The striker returns for the second leg at Fir Park and Johansson knows he will be looking to help the Lanarkshire side to advance. Johansson insisted: “We need all our good players. Ibby has had a really strong impact on the team and the start to the season, so it’s massive he can play. “Probably, yes (he was frustrated at missing the first game). In fact I know that he was. “Unfortunately, it’s complicated, these things. But now he can play tomorrow, so he’s happy. “It will be (an added motivation). He missed a European game and tomorrow he will get the chance to get one.” Motherwell need to win to set-up a clash with Freiburg in the next round. The Swede goes into the HJK with total confidence in his squad. He said: “I’m not afraid of this. I feel that the players are so locked in and focused and they want to do well. 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.” Motherwell added to their squad with the signing of Irish midfielder Joe Hodge from Tondelo. The Steelmen had been in talks for several weeks with the issue being that his former club, Wolves, was due a large sell-on. The Republic of Ireland international won’t be eligible to make his debut until the Premier Sports Cup clash with Stenhousemuir at the weekend. Johansson admitted: “We’ve been patient. There have been negotiations going up and down. But he’s here. “It’s very pleasing that we have the chance to make signings like Joe. It’s evidence that the club is moving in the direction it wants. “Joe is a very exciting young midfielder. He is mainly a number six in our system. He can also have a more box to box role or play further up the pitch. But we mainly see him as a six. “Some years ago, in teams that played a similar style to us, you would see a slow number six with good vision of the game. "But I think Joe represents kind of the last five, six years version of a number six - you have that vision, you have that quality on the ball, but you also have the mobility. “Very much like you’ve seen with (Lukas) Fadinger and (Oscar) Priestman, you can move fast into a new space to receive the ball. The game moves fast nowadays. So he really very much represents that for me. “Joe has been very eager to join Motherwell. He’s shown how much he wants to come to us. We believe it’s a perfect match.”