Mark O'Hara: midfield ace hopes to be starring in Europe for Motherwell FC next season

Mark OHara is keen to be back at Fir Park as a Motherwell player for season 2020-21. (Pic courtesy of Motherwell FC)

Despite leaving Motherwell FC upon the expiry of his six-month loan deal from Peterborough United on May 31, midfielder Mark O’Hara is keen to return as a Fir Park player next season.

After being transfer listed by Peterborough at the end of the 2018-19 campaign, O’Hara (24) joined ’Well and eventually became a regular starter under manager Stephen Robinson from December onwards as the Steelmen ultimately secured a European spot by finishing third in a coronavirus-shortened Scottish Premiership campaign.

“I spoke to the manager (via text message) last week and Motherwell are still interested,” O’Hara told the Times and Speaker. “It is not doable at the moment but I hope there’s still a chance that it will happen.

“There is no timescale on when Motherwell might come back with an offer. It’s uncertain times so I’ve not got many options at the moment but Motherwell would be my number one option.

“It would definitely suit me coming back.

“I took a while to get going at Motherwell but once I first played I was really enjoying myself. I wouldn’t say I was in the form of my life, I think I was playing OK in a few games and I had a good run of games.

“If possible I would like to go back. Playing in a European competition is something a lot of people would want to achieve in their careers at some point.

“Obviously the fact that would be doable at Motherwell is something I would definitely want to be a part of.”

O’Hara has been keeping himself fit by running every day since lockdown was imposed.

The ex-Dundee ace had been renting a property in England when starring for Peterborough, with whom he still has one year of his contract remaining. O’Hara also said he was relishing being back in this country as he was now back living with family in Barrhead.

Summing up the unprecedented, Covid-19-hit times in which we have all been living since ’Well last played in a 1-1 draw at Hearts on March 7, O’Hara added: “I don’t think anyone at that last game expected this to happen.

“Obviously this has never happened before so it has been pretty surreal the times that we’re in.

“Nobody would have envisaged the outcome that we had and the season not being finished back then, no chance.”