Phil O'Donnell made only 25 appearances for Wednesday

The injury-plagued 31-year-old was released by Sheffield Wednesday at the end of last season.

But he has impressed Motherwell boss Terry Butcher while on trial and has been given an 18-month contract.

Butcher is expecting to lose Scotland international Stephen Pearson to Celtic for a fee of about �300,000 after the weekend.

O'Donnell is also a left-sided player, but Butcher told BBC Sport: "He is not a direct replacement.

"Phil O'Donnell plays a more central role than Stephen."

The former Scotland and Celtic midfielder left Sheffield Wednesday after an injury-blighted time in English football.

O'Donnell helped Motherwell win the Scottish Cup with a defeat of Dundee United in the 1991 final and was sold to Celtic for a club record fee of �1.75m.

He moved to Hillsborough in 1999 along with Simon Donnelly, who also had extensive injury problems while with Wednesday.

Donnelly has been a regular with First Division St Johnstone this season and now O'Donnell hopes to resurrect his own reputation after making only 25 appearances in four years at Hillsborough.

Meanwhile, Butcher has stressed that no offer had yet been made for full-back Steve Hammell, despite suggestions that he is wanted by Wigan Athletic.

Defender Willie Kinniburgh, 19, will return to Motherwell from Ayr United following the end of his loan spell at Somerset Park.