Motherwell have been dealt a massive blow with the news that key defender Shaun Hutchinson has been hit with a one-match ban.

The 23-year-old picked up his sixth booking of the season in last Saturday’s 2-1 win away to Ross County and has now gone over the SFA’s disciplinary threshold.
With the suspension kicking in a fortnight on from his weekend caution, the Newcastle-born stopper will be free to face St Mirren on Saturday and Aberdeen on Boxing Day.
However, the centre-half will then have to sit out the trip to face Partick Thistle at Firhill on December 29 as Stuart McCall’s side seek to improve on their current fifth spot in the SPFL Premiership over the festive period.
Hutchinson was red-carded for a further two yellow cards in the 1-0 victory over Hibs last month and served another one-game ban in the following game against Dundee United, a match the Steelmen lost 4-0.
However, it’s not all doom and gloom at Fir Park, with the Steelmen ready to welcome back three key players for Saturday’s
St Mirren showdown.
Bob McHugh, Fraser Kerr and Zaine Francis-Angol have all been passed fit for the weekend after training with the team this week.
Striker McHugh has missed two games with a knock, defender Kerr went off with a hamstring injury in the early stages of the recent 5-0 defeat by Celtic, while Francis-Angol has overcome a groin injury.
McCall, who has goalkeepers Gunnar Nielsen and Lee Hollis on the treatment table, told the club’s official website: “With so many games in short succession over Christmas and New Year, the more options you have, the better.
“We weren’t expecting Zaine to be back so soon, but he got some really welcome news after we thought he’d be out for two to three months at least.
“Zaine, along with Bob and Fraser, will provide increased competition for places.”
Meanwhile, centre-back Shaun Hutchinson will miss the Scottish Premiership clash with Partick Thistle on December 29 after picking up his sixth booking of the season during Motherwell’s win at Ross County on Saturday.