Keith Lasley ready to be inspired by fans’ tribute to club legend Phil O’Donnell

Artwork on the stand bearing O’Donnell’s name, which incorporates the word ‘legend’ and the number 10 the midfielder graced in two spells at Fir Park, will be officially unveiled 90 minutes before today’s Clydesdale Bank Premier League game.

United representatives have been invited to attend the ceremony in respect of their reaction following the death of O’Donnell, who collapsed during a game between the teams on December 29, 2007. The tribute has been paid for through funds raised by the Motherwell Supporters Trust and Lasley admits it will be another emotional reminder of the influence his former team-mate had on the club.

Lasley said: “There are maybe not too many of us still here who were lucky enough to play with Phil and be friendly with him. But it’s an inspiration and a really nice touch with the memorial on the stand, and well deserved. Phil is always going to be seen as a legend round about here.

“It was a real privilege to play alongside him and class him as a friend and team-mate. He was an inspirational character and we see him every day, his pictures are up round about the club. It’s inspirational walking in every day and seeing them. So it’s going to be a poignant moment and hopefully it can spur us on to a good victory on Saturday.”

Despite sitting nine points clear in third place in the SPL, Motherwell are looking for their first win at Fir Park for two months and have scored fewer home goals than anyone else, although those six strikes have helped them to three wins.

Manager Stuart McCall said: “We had two Old Firm games and the St Johnstone game we hope was a one-off in the fact that individual errors gave St Johnstone the goals. It goes without saying that when you’re at home the onus is on you to attack and we find, when we go away, teams have got to come out and we have players who can break and play good counter-attacking football.

“I think where we are in the league, a point away at Motherwell looks a good result nowadays.

“But I’m sure Dundee United will come and have a go, they always do. They’ve got good players. They have been a bit inconsistent only because they have a lot of young players and Peter [Houston] obviously lost a few boys. He has brought a few new players in and has had to blood some young guys. They are definitely one of the teams that can go on a winning run.”

Meanwhile, McCall has invited Estonian striker Henrik Ojamaa back for a second trial spell after he played in a midweek friendly against Kilmarnock. The 20-year-old former Derby trainee is looking for a new club for January after being released by Finnish side RoPS.

“We’ve not got a bounce game next week but we will hopefully get him back and have another look,” McCall said.