LIONEL AINSWORTH still has a ‘big part’ to play at Motherwell despite being used sparingly in recent weeks.

That was the reassuring message to the winger from Fir Park boss Mark McGhee in what is a bittersweet period watching from the side lines.

The Well manager claimed the former Shrewsbury man was the most talented in the Lanarkshire side’s squad when he first came in to the club back in October despite failing to pick his star man against Champions Celtic for his first game back in charge.

Since then, Ainsworth has only started three matches and didn’t even make the bench for the January 2 derby with Hamilton Accies.

A host of second-half cameos have left some Well supporters fearing that the man who played an integral part in keeping Motherwell up last season may not be in McGhee’s future plans.

However, the Fir Park manager insists that is not the case.

“I’ll speak to them all and I’ve talked to Lionel and explained to him why he wasn’t on the bench [against Hamilton],” said McGhee.

“I think midweek during training we got a real reaction, he trained brilliantly and that meant I knew he was ready to go on against Cove.

“Lionel is a brilliantly-talented player and has a big part to play in what we are trying to do here.

“He will dovetail with Marvin Johnson and there will be a day where we play two of them, whether as wingers or up front with one striker. Either way, they are two great assets to have in the squad.”

He added: “I think we can only afford to play with one wide player and at the moment Marvin’s form has kept Lionel out of it.

“But he wasn’t on the bench last week for reasons to do with the balance of the bench. [Chris] Cadden was on the bench last week, wasn’t this week but [Dom] Thomas was. We are trying to be fair to everyone.

“I’m quite comfortable with that. It’s not only challenging them to get in the team but to get on the bench.”

Part of the reason Ainsworth has failed to break into the squad is to do with how well the starting XI is performing without him and a host of familiar names.

McGhee tinkered frequently with his line-up during the first few games of his second tenure at the club but has recently largely stuck by the 11 men that have given his team six games without a defeat.

It means players like James McFadden, David Clarkson, Kieran Kennedy and Louis Laing have all joined Ainsworth from either the dug out or the stand, with their manager not even making one change for the visit of Highland League Cove Rangers on Saturday.

“It was to keep the likes of Louis Moult and Scott McDonald getting goals and maintain the form that they are in,” said McGhee, who saw both score in the 5-0 Scottish Cup win. “It’s also about keeping their confidence up, which was evident on Saturday.

“But to stick with the same line-up was also to ask the question again and keep challenging the others like Lionel, Faddy, young Dom Thomas, Chris Cadden and even David Clarkson, who has been training so well but didn’t come on.

“It’s putting pressure on others. By me keeping the team the same they know they have to set high standards to get in the team.”