Interview: James McFadden eyes his 49th cap

“He is buzzing for it,” smiles a proud father, who, in the past couple of 
months, has finally been able to let James junior fully appreciate what he does for a living.

“He used to come along to the games at Birmingham City, but he was only three or four then and didn’t really understand. But now he’s really into his football and it’s great for him.”

The past two years, of course, have seen McFadden spend more time in treatment rooms than on the pitch during his well documented battle back from a serious knee injury.

His return to his first club in February this year, after a decade in English football, has proved to be every bit as restorative as he had hoped. He has started Motherwell’s last seven games, a period in which they have been unbeaten to strengthen their bid for runners-up spot in the Scottish Premier League and European qualification.

McFadden has just four games left of his short-term deal and says he has “no idea” what his next move will be. 
But young James and his three other children will play a significant role in any decision he makes, especially if English clubs come calling.

“I don’t know if the family would be happy to move down there again,” he says. “They enjoy being back in Scotland. That’s the difficult thing, they are back here and settled. So I’ll cross that bridge when I come to it, if I come to it. My two oldest kids are in school now, loving it with their wee pals, so it wouldn’t be ideal to move them. But, if needs must, that’s the nature of my job.

“Because I’ve been injured and didn’t play much in the last couple of of years, people think I didn’t do that well in England. But I played every week for Birmingham City, helped them to their highest-ever top-flight finish and the longest unbeaten run in their history. I was part of that.

“I also played over 100 games for Everton in my first spell there. If the chance came up to go back to England, I’d have to look at it. It’s a great place to play, with the amount of coverage it gets and the standard of players you come up against. It’s second to none.

“The last two or three years were a bit of a waste, because I was injured. So maybe in that aspect, I’ve got unfinished business down there. But I can still look back on my time there overall and be happy with what I’ve done.”

Whisper it within earshot of Motherwell supporters, just in case they get too excited, but McFadden does not totally discount the notion of extending his second spell at Fir Park.

“It’s certainly not a case of there being nothing that could make me stay here,” he adds. “People probably didn’t think I would sign for Motherwell this year, so you never know. I haven’t even spoken to anyone at the club yet.

“I think they are speaking to players at the moment they want to keep for next season, but I haven’t spoken to anyone yet. This is a short-term deal I’m on and whether the club can do anything, I don’t know. I wouldn’t rule anything out, but for now I’m just enjoying the rest of my time here before seeing what the summer brings.

“Fir Park does feel like home. It’s a great wee club. It’s run as well as it can be and there are good people around the club. You can see it as we’re sitting here now, all the players are still hanging about after training, having lunch alongside the rest of the staff. There is a great spirit around this place and I’m delighted to be back amongst it. The biggest thing for me is to get a bit of enjoyment out of the game again.

“When I came, my focus was solely on getting fit and playing games, proving to everyone there were no lingering effects of the knee injury. That has kind of tarred me for the last couple of years.

“I don’t have any plans. We’ll see how it goes. I’ll get to the end of the season, enjoy it and kick on from there. I honestly don’t have any particular goals or plans in my mind as to where I go next.

“As I say, it was just a case of making sure I can play to the same level I did before. I feel as though I’m fast becoming that player again. I’ll see where it takes me. If I get offers, I will look at them.”

Among the clubs who will probably be linked with McFadden are Celtic, just as they have been from time to time ever since he first emerged at Motherwell. He looked set to join them at one point last season, following his release by Birmingham City, but opted to rejoin Everton instead.

“There has always been plenty of talk about it, but that’s just about it,” he shrugs. “For one reason or another, it never materialised last time. I’d say it was pretty close, but it wasn’t as close as it was made out.

“I tend not to look back on things like that. I made my decision to go to Everton, because they were pushing hardest for me. If I did well there, there was a better chance of getting an extended contract. It was too hard for me to say ‘No’ to.”

When a short-term deal at Sunderland at the start of this season failed to work out, McFadden seemed to have reached a point where scepticism over his ability to recapture his optimum fitness and form were mitigating against him. He knows there were some who viewed his move to Motherwell as a backward step.

“When I first signed in February, someone said it was the easiest move I could have made,” he says. “But for me, it was the hardest because I had so much to live up to here. The Motherwell fans remember all the good stuff I did when I was first here, but they probably don’t remember all the bad games or bad moments in games that I had.

“I didn’t really know what to expect. I knew it was going to be hard, coming back to the expectation levels of the fans here. I knew that was going to be a challenge but I have relished it. I’ll never shirk a challenge and I knew I had to get back to playing games. I’ve really enjoyed it, the competitiveness of the games and the fact we have been playing well and winning. It’s been excellent.

“They say ‘never go back’ in sport, but that tends to be in hindsight when it hasn’t worked out. But I’ve got a lot left in my career, a lot more to achieve. It wasn’t as if I was coming back here to retire.

“I was coming back to prove myself again. I’ve got the hunger and desire to succeed. I definitely feel I’ve been vindicated. Absolutely. The fact the team have been playing so well and I’ve managed to slot in and help the team out shows that. I have started the last seven games and, touch wood, I’ve not suffered any ill effects with my knee or any previous injuries. I feel great, I feel as if I’m getting stronger every week.”

There were inevitably dark moments for McFadden during his long lay-off, when even his own self-belief and instinctive sense of optimism began to recede.

“Along the way, there were doubts,” he admits. “It’s just part and parcel of having those kind of injuries. There are times when you do wonder if you are going to run or train again, never mind play again.

“It is something you worry about day to day, if there is a bit of fluid on the knee or a bit of stiffness. How are you going to deal with it? But, as long as I’m playing every week, I’ll deal with whatever else comes along. More recently, before I came back to Motherwell, the problem wasn’t with my mindset. It was more a case of other people not seeing how good I was 
feeling and not believing in me. I was feeling good again, but just not getting picked to play.”

Such has been the level of McFadden’s form in recent weeks, a return to the Scotland squad is surely on the horizon. He has not played for his country since being substituted by Craig Levein at half-time in the game against Liechtenstein at Hampden in September 2010, his performance in winning his 48th cap that night subsequently criticised by the then manager.

There is now the intriguing prospect of the Tartan Army poster boy perhaps earning a landmark 50th cap in the friendly against England at Wembley in August, should Gordon Strachan call him up for No 49 in the World Cup qualifier against Croatia in Zagreb on 7 June. McFadden, though, isn’t holding his breath in anticipation. “I don’t think I’ll be involved in the Croatia game,” he says. “I’d love to be involved and if I played well in the last four games of the season for Motherwell and was asked to join the squad, then I’d be ready and delighted to do my bit for the country.

“But I think it might just come too soon for me to be in the manager’s thoughts. I haven’t booked any holidays for June yet, but I will be. I won’t be holding off, because I don’t think there’s much chance of me being called up.

“Aye, it would be excellent to win my 50th cap at Wembley, but right now I’m just looking to get my 49th cap whenever and wherever possible. Playing for Scotland again is a huge ambition for me, because I’ve had so many great times in international football, and it’s something I hope can happen as soon as possible. I’m still only 30 and I’ve got a lot of 
football left in me.”

Strachan does not have to look far for expert opinion on McFadden’s current readiness to play for Scotland, with Motherwell manager Stuart McCall as part of his coaching staff.

“Maybe that’s why I’m not going to be picked, he maybe hasn’t put that good a word in for me!” laughs McFadden. “But he does work with me every day and the fact I’m playing for his team might help. But I’m not looking for any favours. Most of our games have been on telly since I came back anyway, so the Scotland manager has been able to see what I’ve done.”

The Sky cameras will be in attendance for live coverage tomorrow as Motherwell look for a second home win of the season over Celtic, having started their current unbeaten run with a 2-1 win against the champions at the end of February.

Michael Higdon scored the winner that night and may feel he has a point to prove against Neil Lennon’s team on this occasion, the Celtic manager having been critical of the PFA Scotland Player of the Year short list which includes the big English striker.

“Higgy is the top scorer in the SPL, so why should be not be on the list?” says McFadden of his team-mate. “I can understand Neil Lennon’s frustration, 
because they have been the best team in the league and will feel they should have some of their players nominated.

“But I don’t think there is any one of their players who has shone through this season especially more than the rest of his team-mates. It’s all about opinions and the voting for Celtic players was split. It’s unfortunate for them, but Higgy and the other boys who have been nominated deserve it. I actually voted for Johnny Russell of Dundee United.

“It’s a big game for us on Sunday. Celtic have won the league and a few of their players will be rested, but we are pushing hard for second place and our aim is to stay unbeaten between now and the end of the season. There’s no reason why we can’t. Finishing second will be a great achievement for the manager and the players here.”