CRAIG REID insists Motherwell won't allow a European hangover to derail their bid for a flying start to the Premiership this season.

While both Aberdeen and St Johnstone featured in continental competition last night, Stuart McCall's side had to watch on from home after they crashed out of the Europa League to Icelandic outfit Stjarnan last week.

It was a hugely frustrating opening to the new campaign for the Steelmen, who were in commanding positions in both legs of the second qualifying round tie before eventually going out 5-4 on aggregate.

Boss McCall will put his side through their paces for the final time before the top-flight kick-off when they host Spanish cracks Real Betis in a behind-closed-doors clash tomorrow.

And defender Reid is determined to put Well's Euro woes behind him as the Steelmen get set for another challenge at the sharp end of Scotland's top flight next term.

He said: "It was obviously disappointing to go out of Europe like we did but we can't let that feeling linger.

"We have to focus on the new league campaign now and look to get off to a good start in the Premiership.

"We have got the Betis game on Saturday so hopefully we will look sharp then and then we will be ready going into the St Mirren game next week.

"We have played two competitive games so hopefully that will stand us in good stead in the league.

"We can't look back at Europe, that is gone, so we have to focus on the league and the new campaign.

"The manager hasn't set any targets yet but, as a team, we want to continue what we have been doing in previous seasons.

"We have been in the top half of the league and competing for European places for a few years now and that will be the aim again.

"A lot of teams are strengthening but the aim for us will be to maintain what we have been doing in the last couple of seasons."

Motherwell will kick off the new campaign at home to St Mirren next weekend as they look to pick up where they left off on domestic duty after they claimed a second place finish last term.

McCall has once again seen his top talents - including defender Shaun Hutchison and forward Henri Anier - leave the club this summer but Reid insists the Fir Park squad can cope in the battle for Premiership success.

He said: "Last season I came in and played a few positions and that does help when you have got a smaller squad. There are a few boys in the squad that can do that.

"If the bodies don't come in this summer, we will go with what we have got and give it our best shot. We can move people about and see how we go.

"It is a bonus to have players that can play in a couple of different positions when you have got the size of squad we do."