Scott makes plea to Hibs and Hearts

WANT-AWAY Motherwell star Scott McDonald today told Hearts and Hibs: "Come and get me".

The Australian striker has told his Fir Park employers he is keen to move on this summer and both the Capital clubs have been credited with an interest in him.

The 22-year-old, who has scored 27 times over the past two seasons, has two years remaining on his current deal in Lanarkshire and, with new Fir Park boss Maurice Malpas reluctant to sell one of his best talents, a six-figure transfer fee would be required to prise him away.

The Jambos are looking to strengthen their squad as they bid to qualify for the lucrative group stages of the Champions League while Hibs are on the look-out for a goal-scorer after losing Garry O'Connor to Lokomotiv Moscow and Derek Riordan shortly to depart for Celtic.

And McDonald told the Evening News he would be keen to swap life at Fir Park for life in the Capital.

"I've read in the papers that Hearts and Hibs are interested in me and if that is the case it would be a real honour to think that clubs like that could come in for me," he said.

"It's nice to read that sort of stuff and it's certainly something I would be interested in. My agent will deal with that sort of stuff but I am not going to close any doors at this stage. I need to keep my head down, work hard and play as well as I can and show clubs that they should make a move for me."

Any approach for McDonald is, of course, dependent on a fee being agreed with Motherwell but the Aussie is hoping Malpas agrees to cash in on the fact he is still under contract.

"I've had a really good time at Motherwell but I just feel that it's time to press on and hopefully find a new challenge," said the striker. "Missing out on the World Cup was one of the reasons for me deciding I want to leave and I feel that playing with a more high profile side would maybe help me at international level as well as bettering me as a player.

"I've had two-and-half years at Motherwell and I'm very grateful to everyone at the club but just feel the time is right for me to move on.

"I still have a couple of years left on my deal which means they would hopefully get a decent deal for me.

"They've helped me to improve as a player and I reckon moving on would benefit both parties."

Taken from the Scotsman