Leicester City loanee Henry Cartwright on Motherwell goal, Scottish game and potential Falkirk return
Leicester City loanee Henry Cartwright on Motherwell goal, Scottish game and potential Falkirk return.
Leicester City loanee Henry Cartwright says he wouldn't be averse to returning to Falkirk next season despite his lack of minutes on the pitch for the Bairns since the turn of the year.
The midfielder, who scored a crucial winner against Motherwell last time out, has only managed two Scottish Premiership starts in 2026 with most of his minutes coming in the form of short substitute appearances. Cartwright suffered Hampden heartbreak last month, being sent off in the Scottish Cup semi-final penalty defeat to Dunfermline. But he is now looking forward to final three outings of the season as John McGlynn’s side hunt down Hibs in fifth spot.
When asked if he had any inclination of how next season looks for him, Cartwright - who has one year left on his Foxes’ contract - admitted that another season in Scotland with Falkirk would be a desirable option.
Leicester City loanee open to Falkirk return
He said: “I wouldn’t rub my nose at it. Of course (I would be interested). I have a year of experience now up here. I get the gist of what it is all about now. The manager has been class. He keeps you involved and you don’t feel a castaway even when you aren’t playing. He is great off the pitch too. You will always remember your first loan. Back in England, the Scottish game doesn’t get the respect it deserves. To be honest, this time last year I was probably in that boat, thinking ahead of the move: ‘is it actually any good?’ But I have seen from day one how good it is. It is so much better than people think. I wouldn’t have believed a year ago I was scoring in big games against Motherwell and Rangers.”
Ahead of the final three, Cartwright added: “I want to get as many minutes as I can. I haven’t played much this side of January. I’ve been coming on here or there. But we have three games left against big teams and I am just focusing on getting minutes before I head back down south. It has been class. 100 per cent. Scottish football is brilliant, the intensity is something else. I certainly felt that the last 15 minutes today.”
The 21-year-old came on with half an hour go and scored with his first touch, slamming home at the near post from Ben Broggio’s excellent pass just 90 seconds after entering the field of play. That goal earned a 1-0 win and an unbeaten season against a high-flying Motherwell side. The Bairns have picked up 10 points from 12 against Jens Berthel Askou’s team.
“We had loads of chances to finish the game off,” Cartwright said. “It was great that we pulled it off in the end. Before the game, we knew that Motherwell would want to come and beat us because of our good record against them. I’m not sure I could pinpoint it to one thing. Normally Barney (Stewart) puts his chances away, he could have walked away having scored ten goals! But he is human. It can happen. He could put all of them away against Hibs this weekend, I am not worried, he always gets into those areas again and if he didn’t do that then you have maybe worry. He is on the end of most things.”