MOTHERWELL Scottish Cup hero Steve Kirk today hailed Scott McDonald as the man to help Motherwell blast their way back into the top half of the Ladbrokes Premiership.

The Australian international put pen to paper yesterday on a deal that will see him stay at Fir Park for at least a year following a successful short stint at the club for the second half of last season.

It was the influence of McDonald both in midfield and in attack which helped turn Well’s season around and transform Ian Baraclough’s side from relegation candidates to Premiership play-off stars.

Kirk played with some of the best players of a generation at Motherwell, including the creative genius of Davie Cooper and goalscoring legend Dougie Arnott.

Both men helped catapult the Steelmen to success in the early 90s and Kirk reckons McDonald could be that talisman this season.

“It’s big for Motherwell, the fans and the players as well that Scott has returned. Bringing Skippy back is a fantastic signing. He came in last season, did well, scored a couple of goals and he’s now back for at least a year.

“Managers are judged on how many points their team gets over the course of a season. They get points by scoring goals and if you don’t have a natural finisher in your team, then that won’t happen.

“That quality will hopefully help them get off to a good start, get back into the top half of the league, maybe top four and back into Europe where they had been until this season.”

McDonald’s presence in the team will also help influence success in those around him.

That was evident last season when he helped Motherwell forward Lee Erwin into the young striking sensation that convinced Leeds United to take him to Elland Road.

Now Baraclough is assembling a new-look team, including three new strikers in Louis Moult, Wes Fletcher and David Clarkson, Kirk is sure the Aussie will work his magic again.

He said: “I think towards the end of the season last year Scott helped Lee on and that helped get him his move.

“Having someone like Skippy there, who is a quality international player, can only benefit the club, the team and the players around them.

“He will help the younger kids that are there like he did with Lee, and there are now other experienced boys in there to help things along.”

While McDonald’s arrival at Fir Park is a boost to Motherwell’s hopes for the season, Kirk is keen for the Steelmen to get off to a quick start.

A sluggish opening to the last campaign with defeat to Stjarnan in the Europa League, along with several below-par performances, ended any chance of the Lanarkshire side replicating their recent high-placed finishes under Stuart McCall.

Building on a morale and momentum-boosting play-off win over Rangers, however, Kirk is confident it will be a new story this time round.

“I think a lot of people towards the end of last year had their blinkers on and their heads down, but Ian’s team proved they were a good, good side in the play-off,” said Kirk, who is now on the board at League One side Albion Rovers.

“Getting off to a good start is so important for Motherwell, as it is with any team.

“They had a few injuries last campaign and that hampered them badly. They need to blast it this time. I think it’s a different Motherwell this year.”

Meanwhile, Well beat Sligo Rovers 2-1 in a friendly last night, with an early goal from Dom Thomas and a last-minute strike by Wes Fletcher giving Baraclough a victory over his former charges at the Showgrounds.