Brown ready for Europa League clash

Motherwell manager Craig Brown is confident his players will be match-sharp for Thursday's Europa League opener - but he is concerned about the size of his squad.

Motherwell have lost Jim O'Brien and Giles Coke since last season while loan players John Ruddy, Lukas Jutkiewicz and Michael McGlinchey have all departed. But the team that started Saturday's 2-1 pre-season friendly victory at Ayr - which followed wins over Brechin and Forfar - featured just one summer signing, former Charlton goalkeeper Darren Randolph.

"We're as ready as we can with the squad we've got. We would like a bigger squad," Brown said.

"We haven't the funds to replace players. We've got the funds to get a new striker, that's all at the moment unless we sell a player or Mr (John) Boyle produces his wallet."

Only Tom Hateley, who came off the bench after recovering from a minor knock, is likely to come into the reckoning for the first leg of the second qualifying round against Breidablik at Fir Park as Brown looks to young players to fill his bench.

Motherwell face a side sitting top of the Icelandic league after 11 games and although they are part-time, they feature a number of full and under-21 internationals.

But Brown is confident the training regime of former Rangers, Manchester United and Scotland assistant Archie Knox will atone for the disparities in competitive action.

"We're not going to use that as an excuse if things don't go well," Brown said. "Our boys have been training very well for 19 sessions and three games and you should be fit after that, particularly as the man in charge of training, Archie Knox, is vastly experienced.

"If there is anyone better for doing pre-season for top players, I've yet to see it."

Brown has declined to sign trialist striker Carlos Gazapo while former Tranmere midfielder Chris Shuker remains an option, but the Motherwell manager admits adding anyone before Thursday's clash is unlikely.