WING king Zaine Francis-Angol reckons Motherwell's midfield is motoring as the Steelmen drive up the league.

The Fir Park club have pulled level on points with second-placed Inverness Caledonian Thistle thanks to their battling 2-1 win over Hearts on Saturday.

A key part of that success was at the heart of Stuart McCall's side, with Francis-Angol sitting on the left side of a midfield four also containing Keith Lasley, Iain Vigurs and Stuart Carswell.

The Motherwell manager has tinkered throughout the start of the SPFL Premiership campaign with his set-up as James McFadden, Lionel Ainsworth and Paul Lawson have also featured while McCall attempts to find a winning formula to his midfield conundrum.

And with Ainsworth and McFadden missing through injury and Lawson benched, the Well boss will have been delighted with the fluent nature of his team's play against the Jambos, something which also pleased Francis-Angol.

"I definitely feel the midfield is beginning to gel," said the Antigua and Barbuda international.

"The more games we get together, the more you gel together and the more fluid everything becomes. You can see that happening with us.

"Hopefully, if we keep getting the results it will be a good option for us to play this way."

Francis-Angol has taken life in midfield, quite literally, in his stride with his pace a key feature in Motherwell's attacking forays this season.

With the loss of Chris Humphrey, Nicky Law and Omar Daley in the summer, Well lacked speed among their midfield charges.

But despite being a natural full-back, ex- Tottenham colt Francis-Angol has flourished in a less defensive role.

And he has thanked one man for helping him adapt to life in the Motherwell midfield.

"James McFadden is a great player. He is always giving advice," said the 20-year-old. "I've grown used to being in midfield and playing in a different position. I came through as a defender when I was at Spurs, either as a left-back or a right-back. I was always used to getting forward and then getting back."

Francis-Angol was also full of praise for the way the Well line-up has improved despite the lost of a raft of first-team stars in the summer.

He added: "It was difficult at first with the players we lost, but we've brought in quality with players like Iain Vigurs and John Sutton up front.

"This is what happens, people move on and you have to adapt. We aim to do the best we can. We believe we have it in us to replicate our performance last season and, hopefully, we can go on and finish as high again."