LOUIS MOULT is excited to see just how much damage Marvin Johnson can do this season after the winger stole the show in Motherwell’s victory over Annan.

Moult may have been the man credited with two of the Well’s strikes in the 3-1 Betfred Cup victory at Galabank, but it was the contribution of his team-mate on the flank that rightly saw the man of the match award go elsewhere.

It was Johnson’s stunning half volley from the byeline that opened the scoring on 16 minutes, and it was his creativity that conjured up the two assists to get Moult up and running this term.

Since joining Motherwell from Kidderminster back in February 2015, Johnson’s stock has risen almost on a weekly basis as his lightning pace has been joined by a keen eye for goal.

Many Fir Park fans may be fearing that the 25-year-old’s red-hot form may be attracting the attention of suitors, but Moult is looking forward to the prospect of seeing the man from Birmingham soar to new heights in claret and amber this season.

He said: “I know Marv’s game and he knows mine and I think that is why we can play so well together up front.

“We score goals and set each other up. We are on the same wavelength, and for my first, the minute he cuts inside I know where he is going to put it so I gambled by making my run to the back post and thankfully it paid off.

“He is getting better and better and he has a lot of confidence. If he could add more goals to his game then he will be one hell of a player, but he has to keep that type of performance up now for the season.

“Players who put the ball in the back of the net and get assists are always going to attract attention but he is very dedicated to Motherwell.”

The fact Moult didn’t win the man-of-the-match award says a lot about Johnson’s contribution.

Apart from the fact the forward netted a fine second-half brace to give Motherwell their first victory in the competition, it also came when the former Stoke man should have been preparing to go under the knife.

Moult has been suffering from a groin injury for seven months and is due to have surgery tomorrow to correct the problem.

But when news came through that strike partner Scott McDonald was likely to miss out in Annan, Moult was more than happy to step into the breach.

“I was delighted to get a couple of goals because before the game that’s what I needed and wanted,” he said.

“The manager spoke to me and told me there was a good chance I was going to be playing and then when Scott McDonald had to pull out I knew I would be starting, so I had to prepare myself to go through the pain barrier. I have had the injury since before Christmas and it’s one of them that came on and just got worse and worse.

“At the start I was dealing with it and the adrenalin got me through but since we got back for pre-season the pain just hasn’t went away and something had to be done about it.

“I hoped over the summer break the rest would help it but when I came back I felt it and I was gutted. We have to deal with it now.”