Jens Berthel Askou convinced Motherwell will keep improving as players return

Jens Berthel Askou is confident his Motherwell side will make further progress with the help of returning players after his injury-hit team’s unbeaten run came to an end at Celtic Park.

Well were on course for a first win at Celtic Park since 2015 after Apostolos Stamatelopoulos hit a double either side of half-time but the Steelmen eventually fell to a 3-2 defeat following Daizen Maeda’s stoppage-time header.

It was a first defeat for Askou as Motherwell boss and it ended a 14-match unbeaten run, the club’s longest as a top-flight team since 1952.

“I think this team will grow,” said the Dane, who was without 10 players.

“We’ve had a lot of our really big players, who were really important players for us in the beginning of the season, out for a while.

“We’ve had good results and strong performances in that period and I’m confident with them coming back over the next week or so that we will have even more firepower for the next period, and especially the next time we play Celtic.”

Motherwell will remain without long-term absentees Sam Nicholson, Filip Stuparevic, Eseosa Sule, Jordan McGhee and Zach Robinson when they face Falkirk on October 18.

But Stephen Welsh will return after missing out against his parent club and the likes of Elijah Just, Tom Sparrow, Callum Hendry and Callum Slattery are closing in on comebacks after several weeks out.

Stamatelopoulos, Ibrahim Said and Johnny Koutroumbis all went off with muscle issues at Celtic Park while Elliot Watt and Tawanda Maswanhise were also struggling towards the end, but the initial signs were that the problems were “fatigue and cramp”.

Askou’s optimism was further fuelled by the return from injury of captain Paul McGinn at Parkhead.

“It was fantastic to have him with us, especially when Welshy couldn’t play,” he said. “You couldn’t really see that he’s been out of training and games for four weeks.

“So it’s amazing to have players of that quality coming back and then being able to deliver from day one.

“Now we have Tom Sparrow, Eli Just, Callum Hendry, Callum Slattery, really really, good players for us coming back within the next week or two, which is extremely positive.

“That’s why, even though I would have loved to sit here with a win, even a draw, I’m still positive in what’s coming.”