Blaney 'loving' being back in Motherwell team after 'frustrating' injury

Motherwell defender Shane Blaney is relishing being back in the thick of the action after a "frustrating" injury kept him out for the opening period of the league season.

Blaney suffered medial ligament damage against Ross County in Motherwell's league opener and missed about 10 weeks before regaining his place in the starting line-up against St Mirren earlier this month.

Motherwell took seven points from three matches with the Irishman in the back three, and he is ready to bounce back after the Boxing Day defeat by Celtic.

"I'm loving it," Blaney said. "It's been great to get back in.

"It was really frustrating in the first game of the season to pick up the injury. It was at a time where I felt really good throughout pre-season. It was probably the strongest pre-season I've had so far in my career.

"It was really frustrating because obviously you're so excited for the first game of the season, you're so excited for the season, and then to be hit with that was a nightmare.

"But I'm delighted now to get back in the team in the last four or five games. There's been a good few positive results, barring Boxing Day.

"Hopefully now we can just kick on again Sunday and throughout the festive games."