MOTHERWELL manager Stephen Robinson is hoping that his new dynamic duo in attack, Curtis Main and Nadir Ciftci, hold the key to unlocking a Hearts defence that haven’t conceded a goal in eight matches.

Robinson takes his men to the capital this afternoon to take on a side that are also on an eleven-match unbeaten run, but he feels the unpredictability of Ciftci, in particular, could be the factor that swings the match in the Steelmen’s favour.

“Nobody can seem to score against them at the minute,” said Robinson. “They’re on a very good run and, obviously, they have a solid defence but it’s up to us to be creative, get behind them and get crosses into the box so that we can test their resolve.

“Nadir has been involved in two goals so far and Curtis has scored once and also won a penalty so they’ve both been very bright.

“[Nadir] has what we were lacking in that he can do something off the cuff. He can conjure up something out of the blue to win a match – his little flick from the throw-in against Hamilton last weekend which led to the penalty, for example.

“Nadir brings that little bit of quality that – Craig Tanner excepted – we were missing at the top end of the pitch. And he’ll only get better – people are only seeing bits and pieces from him just now but the more he plays the more he’ll do.”

Motherwell’s business in the transfer market may not yet be done for the month, with a fractured cheekbone suffered by forward Ryan Bowman and the departure of Alex Fisher to Yeovil Town on loan meaning that Robinson will look to bring in another forward before Wednesday.

“I’m optimistic,” he said. “Sometimes you can spend hours and hours in your office and nothing comes off but, with Ryan Bowman cracking his cheekbone and eye socket, it’s important that we do something.

“We’re looking at a minimum of four weeks and probably closer to six weeks out for him. He hasn’t got the Phantom of the Opera mask yet – I could say something about that, but I won’t.

“It was caused by an accidental collision in training. Ryan and Charles Dunne both went for a loose ball on Friday and you’re hoping that both of them pull out of it. However, the type of boys we have at this club don’t pull out of anything, even when you want them to.

“The upshot was that they both banged each other’s heads and Ryan came off worst – and, given the size of Charles’ head, no wonder!

“It was a nasty injury for him and it’s a bit of a blow for us as well.”

Meanwhile, one of the men who has arrived at Fir Park during January, defender Tom Aldred, was a little disappointed that he wasn’t the star of a viral video when he signed, like teammate Peter Hartley.

The hilarious spoof of Manchester United’s Alexis Sanchez announcement released by the Fir Park club during the week has now clocked up over six million views, but Aldred’s envy over Hartley’s new-found fame hasn’t spoiled his enjoyable start to life in Lanarkshire.

“To be fair, they blew mine out of the water with Pete’s video!” laughed Aldred. “It was funny, I really enjoyed it.

“It’s everywhere, I saw it on Sky Sports News last night. Pete might get a move on the back that!

“But I’m enjoying it. I know the majority of the lads from playing against them in the football league, and I’ve played with a couple of them too.

“Knowing the boys has helped me to settle in. I had a bit of a bond with the guys already, and it’s a great

set of lads here, so I’ve settled in really quickly.”