CARL McHugh made his first appearance in over four months last night as Motherwell defeated Inverness 2-1 at the Caledonian Stadium.
It was McHugh’s first game since the first day of the Scottish Premier League season when he suffered a nasty injury – and he had a big influence on last night’s game.
A wonder goal from Craig Clay and a late strike from Scott McDonald gave the Steelmen a two goal lead before Greg Tansey pulled a scrappy goal back for the hosts in the 90th minute.
Manager Mark McGhee said: He said: “It was a team performance and Lee Lucas has got himself in the team now, Carl McHugh was back tonight and played the full 90 minutes.
“It was a magnificent effort and it was a scrappy game at times with the weather, but it’s a really important result for us.
“I thought Carl was absolutely magnificent. Keith Lasley was missing tonight and we miss Las massively, his energy and desire in the middle of the park, but Carl came in tonight and was an able substitute for him.
“We’re glad to have him back, and to ask him to play 90 minutes on his first game back and for him to come through it the way he did is testimony to the type of lad he is.”
The 23-year-old Lettermacaward man suffered a horror head injury on his Scottish League debut in August.
Against Kilmarnock, McHugh sustained a gash to the head so deep his skull could be seen. The wound required ten stitches and was termed by McGhee as ‘really grim’ with McHugh suffering a delayed concussion and having returned to Donegal for a period.
McHugh signed a two-year deal at Fir Park in July having been Plymouth Argyle’s Player of the Season last term, helping the south coast club to the League Two Play-off final, where they lost to AFC Wimbledon.
McHugh is a former Republic of Ireland international, who has also played with Reading, Dundalk and Bradford City.
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