Baraclough thrilled with McDonald

McDonald returned to Fir Park on Thursday almost eight years after leaving for Celtic in a £700,000 deal.

The 31-year-old, who last played for Millwall on January 10, has 12 games to make an impact and get the Scottish Premiership bottom club out of relegation danger.

Baraclough, who will name the Australia international in his squad to play Inverness at Fir Park, said: "The thing I was most impressed with was his hunger and desire to come back here to a place he knows very, very well, to work with a few players he knows and people around the club that he is very fond of as well, which is great because it shouldn't take him long to get back in the swing of things. He is up for the challenge.

"He knows the league and he's got great qualities. He is different to the other strikers we have got as well.

"He has played 24 games in the Championship this season, I have seen him play this season. I have also seen him on the training ground at Millwall because for a couple of months I was working on Millwall's behalf. I'm really pleased to have had the conversation with him and for the club to make it happen.

"He's a fit boy and he knows what's needed. I know what he has done over the last five or six weeks and I have no qualms about putting him in the squad."

McDonald's arrival - as well as the return to fitness of Stephen Pearson - is a much-needed lift for a Motherwell team that hit rock bottom lost weekend with a 1-0 home defeat by Dundee.

Baraclough admitted his side were gripped by fear after taking one point from eight games and he has tried to lift spirits this week.

"We have done it a little bit different this week," he said. "That's to make sure it's fresh for everybody. We have gone over the defeat from last week and pointers on how we can improve. We were better at the back and as a defensive unit and now we need to make sure we're a threat going forward and finding that right balance."

Motherwell's poor run of form has seen a number of fans question Baraclough's appointment and whether he can get the club out of trouble, but the former Scunthorpe and Sligo Rovers boss remains positive.

"That's the position I'm in and it's not changed since I started managing," the 44-year-old said.

"The buck stops with me but I have got a group of players that are working very, very hard. They are enjoying their work. They are being stimulated by the changes we have made and the new players have got to gel quickly.

"But I think we are in a far stronger position now than 10 weeks ago when I first came in. Yes, we are on the same points as the other two teams at the bottom but I have every confidence going into the next 12 games.

"I have not shirked from a challenge and it will be fantastic when we do get over the line at the end of the season and we are still a Scottish Premiership club."