MOTHERWELL'S stand-in skipper Carl McHugh says he would be 'delighted' if Steve Robinson was named the club's new boss.

The Northern Irishman took charge of his first game on Saturday as the Steelmen finally showed their mettle against Kilmarnock in a 2-1 win.

Robinson, flanked by Stephen Craigan and James McFadden, watched McHugh net the leveller before Zak Jules struck midway through the second half to cure the hangover following Mark McGhee's exit earlier in the week.

And after coaxing a performance out of a Motherwell team that had won just twice in the previous 14 games, Well's first unlikely goal hero of the weekend heaped praise on his caretaker gaffer as the club weigh up their options.

McHugh said: "Robbo has been a positive influence since he came in a few weeks ago.

"He has us very well organised and I think the boys would be delighted if he got the job.

"I think it's just relief to get the win to be honest. I'd not say there is any joy, it's just relief that we managed to get the win.

"It was good to put last week to bed fairly quickly and focus on next week. It's just one win, it's nothing to shout about.

"We need to get a lot more wins before the end of the season."

Saturday was a poignant day for McHugh at Rugby Park in more ways than one.

It was the first return to the ground since that afternoon on the opening day of the Premiership season when he suffered a horrific concussion that kept him out for almost five months.

The former Plymouth player feared for his career during a traumatic period that was made bearable by the care and attention of McGhee, the man who initially brought him to Fir Park in the summer.

Those thoughts of gratitude, rather than any apprehension about repeating his injury, filled McHugh's head on Saturday morning.

"It didn't cross my mind going back to Rugby Park," he said. "Every day I get out to play football is a massive bonus for me to be honest. There were stages where I didn't think I'd get to do that again this season.

"Every day I get to play a game of football is something I'm very grateful for.

"It was very difficult to see Mark go. It was probably one of the most difficult weeks I've had in football.

"I don't think any of the players wanted to see him go. Personally he was very good to me. He brought me to the club and when I went through my injury he couldn't be any better with me.

"He gave me as much time as I needed to get better which isn't always the case with managers. He was very understanding.

"I couldn't speak highly enough of him to be honest. I was gutted when I found out, it was tough for all the boys but we had to come together."

McHugh, who wore the captain's arm band during the second half on Saturday, celebrated passionately as Motherwell defied the doubters to climb out of the Premiership relegation play-off place.

The Irishman concedes it was happy to finally have some happy memories of a trip to Rugby Park with a club he has become so fond of.

He said: "It was the first game of the season I got the injury and I was injured for so long. It's tough when you are a new signing and you are trying to make an impression.

"But the way everyone at the club was with me is something I'm very grateful for. I couldn't speak highly enough of them and I'll always be grateful."