Maswanhise on Player of Year nod and dealing with transfer speculation

The Herald Scotland

Tawanda Maswanhise has acknowledged that his breakout season with Motherwell has opened up a number of avenues for the next chapter of his career.

The winger, 23, has been a standout for the Steelmen this year with his performances where he has pitched in with 22 goals and a handful of assists to help his side to fourth spot in the Scottish Premiership with four games to go.

It has been a stellar campaign for the Zimbabwe international and one which has also come with rampant transfer speculation, linking him with the likes of Celtic and Rangers as well as clubs down south and abroad.

Maswanhise is uncertain what might be around the corner for himself, but he recognises that he has the world at his feet thanks to the platform ‘Well have given him and the advice passed down by manager Jens Berthel Askou.

And now that he’s up for PFA Player of the Year alongside teammate Elijah Just and Hearts pair Lawrence Shankland and Claudio Braga, if it is to be pastures new, it’ll be for a pretty penny directed straight into the Fir Park club’s coffers.

But how has Maswanhise dealt with the constant speculation and plethora of links throughout his season? “Same as what I was when I was a free agent,” he says. “If a team wants you you’ve just got to show them why they want you.

“But that shouldn’t be the main focus. Just got to keep working then when the summertime’s here, off season, you can really look at your options and stuff.

“I always think about my future. I love my future because it’s exciting. With the achievements I’ve had this year, there’s more on the table for me so we’ll see. Who knows what will happen in the future.”

Maswanhise is a confident lad and knows what he is capable of. But he also understands that football comes with its ups and downs. In recent weeks the attacker has gone from feast to famine in terms of individual strikes, but he believes he is adapting to a different role now.

“Me and the gaffer I think we’ve got a good connection,” he added. “I’ve had a few conversations with him in his office just trying to find that balance. What can I do, what can I do more and what can I do less in games to differ my game or my playing style because a lot of teams now know what I’m doing.

“You guys can see it, so I’ve got to try change something. So the last four games I’m going to try something different, so you will see.

“I think people forget or they don’t see what we do off the ball. I make a lot of unselfish runs. Like (vs Rangers), I’m not getting on the ball as much, but those unselfish runs I’m making gets other players in good positions and it makes us look a better team.”

Maswanhise had to settle for a supporting role in Motherwell’s famous 3-2 win over Rangers at Ibrox on Sunday afternoon, but it’s all about the team as a whole. Three points, for the player, was all that mattered. That and vengeance for the defeat in Glasgow back in December.

“Yeah, I felt like it’s like a bit of a hit back. Especially last time the boys came here,” Maswanhise said. “I wasn’t here but I feel like we got hard done by but that’s what football’s about. Then those extra minutes after the seven plus minutes, got to keep going but that’s football. Who doesn’t want to play football an extra few minutes?”

Maswanhise and his fellow nominees this season have kept Celtic and Rangers’ stars out of the running this term for the first time in 13 years, and the attacker appreciates the rarity of the situation. But it’s not lost on him, either, that he has always felt confident in himself that he could reach new heights from a personal perspective.

Now it’s all about finishing strong with Motherwell with a European spot still up for grabs and he hopes to find a late flurry of goals and assists to take him right back to the peak of his powers for the run-in.

“I’m really happy,” he concluded. “It’s great recognition for myself in my second year in Scotland. Hopefully I can finish off the season really strongly. I’ve had a bit of a dip in form but that’s football. I’m sure I’ll be back in and around the goals towards the end of the season.

“I think it’s a good target for myself. I know there’s like a, ‘Wow, there are big clubs in this league, Celtic and Rangers’. It’s a great achievement for myself and I’ve ticked off one of my targets this season.”

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