Ryan Bowman looking to regain first team slot
The striker has become a bit-part player since the January window
Motherwell striker Ryan Bowman is determined to win back his first team place after going from a regular to a bit-part player.
The English forward was part of a lethal strike force with Louis Moult during the first half of the campaign.
However Moult left for Preston in January, and 26-year-old former Gateshead striker has found himself playing second fiddle to new arrivals Curtis Main and Nadir Ciftci.
However, with a William Hill Scottish Cup semi-final against either Kilmarnock or Aberdeen to come next month, Bowman has vowed to battle on in order to convince boss Stephen Robinson he is worth a Hampden recall.
Bowman said: "The first day the manager came last season he spoke to me. He said, 'I know you haven't been playing recently but you're my type of player'.
"He told me he wanted to build the squad around me. Straight away that was really good for me to hear.
"He wanted me to be the main man, especially when Moulty left.
"But he has also brought in Curtis Main and Nadir Ciftci and they have come in and done fantastic and now even I'm having to bide my time.
"I'm having to be patient and work hard in training so that when I get my chance, I can take it with both hands.
"Of course I want to be playing, especially with the semi-final coming up.
"But Curtis, Nadir and Craig Tanner have all been doing their jobs and scoring goals and doing really well so I can't complain.''
Well can put the pressure on Hearts in the race for the Ladbrokes Premiership top six if they beat Lanarkshire rivals Hamilton on Saturday.
And he admits the feel-good factor swirling round the Fir Park dressing room can drive the Steelmen on.
Carl McHugh struck a sensational wonder goal to claim victory for Robinson's team in their quarter-final clash with the Jambos last weekend and Bowman revealed it even convinced his team-mate to end his self-imposed social media ban.
"It was unbelievable,'' said Bowman, who was caught on camera looking stunned as McHugh netted a 20-yard dipping volley. "I didn't even know Carl had a right foot.
"He was that buzzing he even reactivated his Twitter account so he could see all the messages he was getting.
"Straight after the game he re-installed the app on his phone.
"A few of us told him he had to get it back as after he left Plymouth he was getting so much stick from their fans he got rid of it.
"It was fantastic for him. It was some goal to win a game like that.
"He's missing the semi-final through suspension but we're all desperate to get through to the final for him after seeing him score that goal against Hearts.
"But as for Hampden, his suspension just gives another player the chance to step up and do well.
"There are places up for grabs now and that will really drive us on over the next few weeks, starting this weekend against Hamilton.'