MOTHERWELL boss Mark McGhee has handed Bob Malcolm the chance to win a long-term deal at Fir Park.

McGhee has snapped up the former Rangers utility player until the end of the season and he could make a quickfire debut against Aberdeen at Pittodrie tonight.

Malcolm left Rangers for Derby County at the start of the Paul Le Guen era at Ibrox last season, but struggled to hold down a first team place at Pride Park.

The 27-year-old, who can play either in defence or midfield, was farmed out to Championship side Queens Park Rangers last year and made 11 appearances.

He joins several of his former Gers team-mates at the Steelmen: Stephen Hughes, Brian McLean, Ross McCormack and Graeme Smith are all on Well's books.

Malcolm is the fourth singing Motherwell gaffer McGhee, whose side are pushing for a Uefa Cup spot, has made during the 2007/08 campaign.

He brought in back-up goalkeeper Luke Daniels, former St Mirren midfielder Simon Lappin and left-back Stevie Hammell during the January window.

Mark said: "Bob is a top quality player who has played at a high level and will give us the strength in depth that we need in this league."

Meanwhile, midfielder Keith Lasley has agreed a new deal which will keep him at Fir Park until 2010.

Elsewhere, McGhee has revealed he has already put the disappointing 1-0 defeat to Hearts at home out of his mind as he prepares to face the Dons.

He stated: "We have forgotten about Saturday already, what I remember better is the fact we have won nine out of the last 14 games. That is sensational form so we are not going to worry about one defeat.

"And the manner of defeat, we could just as easily have got a draw even though we didn't play well.

"Hearts were punching the air absolutely delighted to have beaten us after they won by the skin of their teeth.

"So we go up to Pittodrie in good form. I watched Aberdeen on Sunday and they were well beaten, so I look upon this as a big opportunity for us."

Aberdeen manager Jimmy Calderwood is under no illusions about the importance of tonight's make-or-break clash against the Steelmen.

He said: "This is a must-win game as far as third place is concerned and even if we do win it is still going to be very difficult.

"It's a game where we have to take the bull by the horns. We need to get back to basics and we have been working hard on that."