Motherwell manager Mark McGhee hails Carl McHugh comeback

Motherwell manager Mark McGhee hailed Carl McHugh's comeback after the Irish midfielder helped them to their second away win of the Premiership season - nearly five months after getting injured in the first.

McHugh was sidelined by a serious bout of concussion after suffering a nasty head wound in Motherwell's opening-day win over Kilmarnock.

The former Bradford and Plymouth player went right back into the starting line-up at Inverness on Wednesday and Motherwell duly recorded a 2-1 victory to move up to seventh spot.

McGhee told Motherwell's YouTube channel: "I thought he was magnificent, I really did. In the absence of Keith Lasley, we miss Las, his energy and desire in the middle of the park, well Carl came in and was an able substitute.

"Carl came in, and to ask him to play 90 minutes and for him to come through it the way he did, is testimony to the type of lad he is.

"He got injured because he's that type of lad but his performance was really excellent."

Another summer signing, Craig Clay, picked an opportune moment to hit his first Motherwell goal as his 25-yard strike drifted into the top corner.

McGhee, whose team play Hamilton on Saturday, said: "One of the things I said in the team talk was directly to Craig.

"We see him in training scoring, scoring, scoring. I asked him for goals and he delivered. It was a fantastic strike, the wind helped a little bit but it ended up where we needed it, right in the top corner."