Motherwell skipper Declan Gallagher will shelve any updates on his future until after the season as he focuses on what could be a crucial three games in his career.
Well host Kilmarnock on Saturday with their Scottish Premiership status already secure, but Gallagher is looking to seal his place in Scotland’s Euro 2020 squad.
Aberdeen were this week credited with an interest in the 31-year-old, who is out of contract at the end of the season and was previously linked with the likes of Dundee United and clubs in Major League Soccer.
“I have been in this situation many times, I was in it at Livingston, I was in it at Dundee,” the centre-back said. “It’s just transfer talk and I have just concentrated on Motherwell.
“All the talk about me moving away, I have put to the back of my head because it’s not important. I know that something will be done at the end of the season, whether it’s here or elsewhere.
“We just have to concentrate on the park rather than off the park. I have to be fully focused on Motherwell and making sure I am doing the right things by the club because they have done the right things by me.
“Whatever happens in my contract talks will happen. I will leave that down to my agents and clubs to speak about, right now I am just focused on football.”
Gallagher lost his place in the Scotland team for March’s World Cup qualifiers after failing to immediately win his Motherwell spot back following a hamstring injury.
He was straight back in his club side after the international break and is looking to hammer home his claim for a place for this summer.
“Obviously when I had the talk with Steve Clarke in the last camp, he told me my minutes were limited because I hadn’t had many games because I was just back from injury,” he said. “So I had to be playing games to get back in the team.
“That was my main focus coming back here, and securing safety for Motherwell as well. I’m happy with how things are going and trying to keep pushing in these last three games to push for that Euros place.
“I didn’t need any more motivation than to keep Motherwell up, as captain of the club that was my main focus. But you have that added bonus of the Euros being round the corner and you know you are in contention. Obviously you want to keep impressing.”
Graham Alexander collected the Scottish Premiership Manager of the Month award for April on the eve of Kilmarnock’s visit following two wins and two clean sheets from both league games.
And the Motherwell boss promised there would be no favours in the final three games to give his fringe players a chance to impress him.
“We will put out as strong a team as possible in every game,” Alexander said. “Professional football is not about waiting for your turn. It’s not a hobby, we don’t pay subs and we’re due a game.
“We have to earn a spot in the team and it has to be hard to earn that spot. Why should I bring players out who have been performing well, who have shown the right character and attributes to win games, if I don’t have to?”
