Latest news with #ElijahJust
Daily Record
6 days ago
- Sport
- Daily Record
Motherwell star pushed to be part of Askou revolution at Fir Park
Elijah Just has reconnected to a boss he worked with in Denmark When Elijah Just heard what Jens Berthel Askou had planned at Motherwell, he pushed for a move to Scotland. At 25, the New Zealand international had already moved to Austria and Denmark, and it was at Horsens that Just worked under Askou. Just reckons he's made a good move to the Premiership, and wants to help realise Askou's vision of how the Steelmen should play. Ahead of Saturday's Premier Sports Cup last-16 tie at Championship leaders St Johnstone, Just said: 'The way the manager has us playing is suited to me, I think, and I've come in at a time when there has been a lot of change, so I haven't had to come into a team that's already settled and try and fight in that way. 'It has been good timing, for me. 'The move was quite fast. I had worked with the manager before, so when he called and explained to me what he was doing, and how he wanted the team to play, I pushed pretty hard to get it done as soon as possible. 'The most important thing is he has a lot of belief in his players, he wants them to feel like they can play with freedom and confidence. Over the first few games, you can see we're trying to play the ball out from the back, to move the ball forward fast and create chances. 'We have a lot of work to do, but I think things are heading in the right direction.' Having had experience of moving has helped Just, who reckons there are similarities between his native New Zealand and Scotland. He said: 'It has been quite easy to settle in, compared to Austria and Denmark, where I was before. 'Scotland feels like I'm coming home, because New Zealand and Scotland are quite similar, so it has been quite easy. 'The first thing is that everyone's speaking English, so that's a massive help, and off the field, things like the food and supermarkets, it's so easy to integrate into society. 'When I moved to Denmark I had to grow up pretty fast. It was difficult being away from home, but you start to get used to it, and moving to Scotland has been the easiest of my moves, for sure. 'The less you have to worry about off the field, the more you can just focus on the football, so it has been really easy for me, now. 'There are similarities. I think in the two games I've played in the league you have Rangers, who have more of the ball and St Mirren was a lot of duels and aerials, which you also get in Denmark.' Just has seen improvement in the team over the Premier Sports Cup group stages and draws against Rangers and St Mirren, and says they're looking forward to getting stuck in to the cup. He said: 'Since I've been here I've definitely seen improvement through the League Cup and the first two Premiership games. 'Where we want to go in the league and the cup, we need to be a lot better, especially in the final third, but we're confident that we'll get there. 'Part of my job is creating goals and assists. I'm trying to push and build confidence, as well as everyone else, to create chances, and when they come, we will score goals. 'From the first two games it has been 'how can we create chances', put ourselves in good positions to really attack. 'We've been very good, building up, but especially in the St Mirren game, I don't think we created enough chances, so that's the focus for this weekend, and going forward. 'St Mirren did a good job to stifle what we are trying to create, and we need to be better in the final third. 'We're confident, going into the cup game. Everybody's really excited. From what I've heard about St Johnstone they have a good squad. 'I know the manager that came in at the back end of last season has them playing quite well, so we know it's going to be tough, but I think we're ready.'
BBC News
09-07-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
New Zealand's Just will add 'tempo & speed' to Well attack
New Zealand winger Elijah Just will add "tempo, speed and effectiveness" to Motherwell's attack after joining on a two-year deal, says manager Jens Berthel 25-year-old, who has eight goals in 36 international caps, has moved from Danish top-flight club Horsens, where Askou previously managed, for an undisclosed spent last season on loan in the Austrian second tier, scoring six goals in 19 games for SKN St who worked with Just in Denmark, says the forward has "highly developed game intelligence" and is a "good and intelligent presser of the ball"."He thrives in small spaces within the opposition's organisation, where his ability to dribble or link up causes big dilemmas," the Fir Park boss added."Driving the ball with speed and moving fast into dangerous areas, he'll use his strong finishing skills and creativity to create chances for his teammates."Elijah will add tempo, speed and effectiveness to our attacking game, and I really look forward to integrating him into the team."Former Helsingor winger Just said: "It's great to be in the building and getting straight down to work. The season gets started this weekend, and I can't wait to get playing."The discussions with the manager have been inspiring. He told me about his vision at Motherwell, and it sounds like a place you want to be as a player."
NZ Herald
10-06-2025
- Sport
- NZ Herald
All Whites v Ukraine live updates, Canadian Shield
Live updates of the Canadian Shield match between the All Whites and Ukraine. All Whites 1 Ivory Coast 0 This was the statement result the All Whites have been waiting for. In their first match since qualifying for the 2026 Fifa World Cup, New Zealand have achieved one of their most impressive wins in recent years. They have beaten the Ivory Coast 1-0 in Toronto on Sunday, just the third victory over African opposition in their history. And this was a big scalp – against the current African champions – a team ranked inside the top 50 (41), well above the 86th-ranked All Whites. The decisive goal came in the 41st minute through a brilliant Elijah Just strike, a sumptuous finish after Marko Stamenic's threaded pass from a quick transition. It was a surprise – as Ivory Coast had looked much the more dangerous team – with New Zealand hanging on for long periods in the first half. Considering the opposition, it was one of the best performances against a non-Oceania team in Darren Bazeley's tenure, alongside draws with the Republic of Ireland and United States. And they did it without Chris Wood for most of the game, with the veteran Premier League striker restricted to a 10-minute cameo at the end. It's a huge boost, ahead of Wednesday's match (9am) against Ukraine. There are high hopes for this Ivory Coast team, seen as their best in a decade. But New Zealand are out to make their own mark in the countdown to next June. Such matches in neutral venues, at the end of long club seasons, can be difficult to assess, but there was a lot to like. The All Whites were defensively exceptional and well organised – Finn Surman was outstanding – while the offensive options improved in the second half. There were four changes from the starting XI that beat New Caledonia 3-0 in March. Bill Tuiloma replaced the injured Tim Payne at right back while Surman and Just were preferred ahead of Michael Boxall and Matt Garbett respectively. Kosta Barbarouses was the other inclusion, with Wood's workload being managed since the hip injury he suffered in March. To say New Zealand's opening goal came against the run of play would be an injustice to that football cliché. The All Whites had struggled to create much of note, while the African team had been dominant, carving out numerous opportunities. But a combination of tenacious defending and wasteful finishing kept the scoreline blank, until Just's delightful goal. It came after Joe Bell had won the ball near halfway, allowing Stamenic to run at a retreating defence. He produced a slide-rule pass for Just, with the Austrian-based winger managed an inch-perfect, angled finish just inside the far post. It was his eighth international goal and continued his rich run, scoring six in the last year. It was a shock to the Ivory Coast side and their large colourful support inside BMO Field. They had the run of play, with their pace, movement and angles, while New Zealand were mostly shadow-boxing, unable to get much going. They tried to keep to their structure but were being stretched down both flanks, with Nicolas Pepe and Evann Guessannd prominent. The All Whites were punished for some loose passing and Pepe had two early chances, with the second a volley just over the bar. Goalkeeper Max Crocombe had to make a strong save from Emmanuel Latte in the 15th minute, after a turnover from a New Zealand throw. Surman had to be alert to deny the same player, while another shot from Pepe went wide. Ivory Coast should have taken the lead after 36 minutes, after neat interplay worked Pepe into space. But the Villareal winger's shot was blocked by Surman, whose positioning was outstanding. The second half was a tighter affair. Ivory Coast continued to push, while the All Whites were more enterprising. From their first corner – in the 60th minute – Tuiloma could have extended the lead but was unable to connect at the far post. Soon afterwards, Bazeley made three changes, with Callan Elliott (for Tuiloma), Matt Garbett (Just) and Alex Rufer (Sarpreet Singh) introduced. Surman and Bindon were forced into more vital clearances. Wood and Michael Boxall came on in the 80th minute, as New Zealand occasionally threatened on the break. The finale was tense – as Ivory Coast threw the kitchen sink – with Simon Adingra's header hitting the post – but the All Whites hung on.
