Marvin Johnson hails Mark McGhee influence at Motherwell

Motherwell winger Marvin Johnson admits he was not sure about the sound of Mark McGhee's approach when the manager first returned to Fir Park.

But Johnson is a total convert after feeling their tactics and fitness have been transformed.

McGhee has led Motherwell to a fifth-placed finish in the Ladbrokes Premiership after taking over a team lacking in confidence in October, and they travel to Celtic Park on Sunday looking for a second away win over the champions.

Johnson said: “When he first came in a lot of lads didn't know him and didn't know what to expect. We started hearing double sessions and running every week and we thought 'what's going on here?'

“Not a lot of lads agreed with it but after six weeks we played Celtic and in games after that you could see the work he did with us paid off a lot and got us gelling as a team and working hard for the whole 90 minutes.

“When we started the season we had a basic 4-4-2 and didn't really have a plan B. Now it looks like we are a Motherwell side that goes out there knowing what we are doing and we know what we need to do if we have to change it.”

Johnson has been one of the key beneficiaries of McGhee's approach, revelling in the freedom afforded by his place in a three-pronged attack.

“It's not a case of playing on the left and just going up and down, or playing on the right and just going up and down, the gaffer has said: 'You three up there just go wherever you like and just make sure you fill in whatever side you are on',” the 25-year-old said.

“It's good, it's almost like a free role and you have the freedom to just go and get the ball and no-one can really pick you up or mark you.

“They don't know where you are going to go, and by the time you get the ball they can't communicate quick enough to reorganise.”