Jens Berthel Askou would have no worries if Motherwell cup tie goes to penalties

Motherwell manager Jens Berthel Askou revealed his players had been “banging in penalties for fun” as the Premiership’s draw specialists prepare for all eventualities against Aberdeen.

Well have drawn all five league matches under Askou despite impressing with their style of play, creating a steady stream of chances and leading in their last three games.

There will be a winner and a loser at Pittodrie on Saturday in the Premier Sports Cup quarter-final as Askou’s side take on the Premiership’s bottom club.

Askou said: “We know that we are progressing, we are developing and we feel that we are taking good steps in our game and we know that we are really, really hard to beat.

“We haven’t lost a game for, I can’t remember how long, and everyone has that feeling that we are so close and it’s not just a feeling that we are really, really close to winning our games. We are just two actions, not just phases or moments, two actions away from being third in the league.

“So we keep working on these details that will make it possible for us to win.

“Also knowing that now we are going into a cup tie, that you don’t necessarily have to score more goals than the opposition during the first 90 minutes, or 120, to win the game. And earlier they were banging in penalties for fun, that looked really good.

“So we are ready if we need to use a few penalties to get through as well.”

Motherwell will have Apostolos Stamatelopoulos in their squad after the Australian striker collided with a goalpost during Saturday’s 1-1 draw at Dundee.

However, Callum Hendry, Paul McGinn, Callum Slattery and Tom Sparrow will remain out and Jordan McGhee has joined the likes of Sam Nicholson and Eseosa Sule on the long-term injured list.

On Stamatelopoulos, Askou said: “He has been on the pitch more and more during the week and he will be fine for Saturday.

“There are a few injuries and there are some players out, Jordan McGhee, Eseosa Sule and Sam will be back next year at some point.

“Paul McGinn had a little thing a couple of weeks ago, he is close but probably won’t make it for the weekend.

“And then we have a few players who will be with us probably after the international break. It is tight but it is probably going to be after, Tom (Sparrow) and Slats (Slattery).

“Callum Hendry, we are monitoring a little bit. He has been a little bit overloaded since he came so it is a day by day, week by week thing that we are taking the decision when to put him in full training again.”

McGhee is yet to make his debut after suffering a thigh injury in pre-season and the former Dundee midfielder suffered a different but similar problem.

On McGhee, Askou added: “It is not a setback, it is a new injury. That is why he needed surgery. He was very unfortunate. But he has had surgery, and now he is looking to work his way back.”