Concern was high across Fir Park during Motherwell's final SPL game of the season with Dundee Utd on Sunday as long-serving defender Stevie Hammell was stretchered from the field after just eleven minutes.

In what was billed as an afternoon of celebration as 'Well fans turned out in numbers to acclaim the final game of the career of skipper Stephen Craigan and the Lanarkshire sides qualification for the Champions League, the mood dipped somewhat as Hammell was forced off on a stretcher after what appeared to be an innocuous challenge with Utd's Danny Swanson.

Fortunately fears of any long-term lay-off were eased as it became clear that despite Hammell suffering a badly swollen knee, the injury was no more serious than that.  The defender, with one Scotland cap to his name, recovered sufficiently to view the second half from the dugout and was able to join his team-mates for the traditional lap of honour in front of the massed ranks of the Motherwell support at full-time.

Hammell, referring to the multitude of beach-balls and inflatables that were strewn across a gusty Fir Park was even able to joke later on Twitter: "Hurt my knee tripping over an inflatable crocodile, then landed on a palm tree. Madness"

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About the author
Andrew Paterson
Long time contributor to various Motherwell FC publications including the official Motherwell FC match programme, official Motherwell FC website, Waiting for the Great Leap Forward and One Step Beyond fanzines.