Motherwell star explains injury trouble and his Fir Park ambition amid Steelmen's impressive form

dailyrecord.co.uk:

It hasn’t been all plain-sailing for Juhani Ojala since he arrived at Motherwell - but he says he’s ready to motor on at Fir Park after overcoming injury.The Finnish international has impressed manager Graham Alexander when given the opportunity, Motherwell fourth in the Premiership at the winter break point.Ojala has played 12 times in all competitions during a spell which has been stop-start in nature.

He also netted his first and only goal for the club so far in a 2-0 win over Aberdeen in September.The centre-back’s arrival was lengthy amid Covid and new laws surrounding Brexit and work permits.He missed six weeks of action with injury before returning to the team from the bench in a 2-1 Boxing Day victory over Livingston.Fully fit and ready to really start his career in claret and amber, Ojala says his time on the treatment table was longer than he had anticipated.He said: “It was really nice to be back out on the pitch after six long weeks with injury.

It was a calf injury I had. It was really frustrating and I was out for longer than I expected to be.“But it’s fine now and it was nice to get back.

I am feeling fully fit now. There were a couple of games where I had muscle problems too but I am feeling good now.”The winter break is ongoing and Motherwell aren’t back in action until an away trip to Ross County on January 18.They ended 2021 with the most Premiership points outside of Celtic and Rangers for the calendar year, which leaves them in a good spot to try and claim European football once more.Ojala says it’s been nice to have a break, although he’s not sure if it came at a great time personally after his injury return.When asked if the winter break arrived at a good point, he explained: “I don’t really know.