Blow for Motherwell as Arsenal loanee Mika Biereth out for three months

Motherwell have announced that Mika Biereth will be sidelined for up to three months with a serious knee injury.

The 20-year-old Arsenal loanee sustained the problem in the Viaplay Cup defeat against St Mirren in Paisley on Saturday and scans have revealed the striker will miss 12 weeks of the season.

With no VAR in place for the game, Well boss Stuart Kettlewell felt referee Willie Collum missed a clear red card for Charles Dunne after the former Motherwell defender fouled Biereth, who was making only his second appearance for the Steelmen, and received a yellow in stoppage time.

Kettlewell said: “I was instructed that these types of tackle were outlawed in the game. It’s an absolute shocker, red card all day long – but the excuse is that they don’t have VAR.

“I’m counting the cost. I’m really angered by the tackle that comes onto a striker, which by the way, as a young lad that we have on loan from Arsenal, we talk about protecting these creative players and all the rest of it, but I think that’s just words sometimes.

“We have to do more to try and protect them because it’s a bad, bad tackle.”

A statement on Motherwell’s website read: “Our loan agreement with Arsenal has not changed as a result of this injury.

“We wish Mika all the best in his recovery and look forward to seeing him back playing soon.”