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He earned a reputation as a great finisher during training but rarely delivered goals when he the chances came for real.
The low point came at the third round cup exit at East End Park when he was on the receiving end of jeers and boos from the disgruntled‘Well support. It has been suggested that Eric Black had to use all his powers of persuasion to convince him to remain a Motherwell player.
The arrival of his father, George, as head of Youth Development at Fir Park made him an easy target for the cheap shots of inconsiderate fans who argued that his inclusion in the first squad came as a result of his ‘Old Man’.
In the space of four months he had the crowd cheering his efforts and he played his part in the spirited end to last season. He accepted a reduction in wages, rolled up his sleeves and contributed to the emotional climax in May.
His last visit to Kilmarnock saw him receive a booking, score a goal and receive a standing ovation as he was substituted in the last ten minutes of the game. His battling performances in Claret and Amber have earned the respect of the fans.
A booking in the Chievo friendly pushed his penalty points tally into the red zone and he missed the first two matches of the new campaign. In the pre season friendly matches he managed goals against Stenhousemuir, Cardiff and Birmingham.
Despite the willing efforts of young McDonald it was noticeable that the team missed Derek’s experience in midfield and we look forward to seeing his debut in the number seven shirt.