Stuart Kettlewell wants more activity as Motherwell rebuild continues
The club must get rid of players before they can bring in new signings
Last updated 27th Jul 2023
Motherwell manager Stuart Kettlewell is still looking to move players on as he continues to reshape his squad.
Kettlewell was told of the need to trim his squad before adding new faces ahead of the new season and that process continued this week.
Ross Tierney and Connor Shields both left the club, the former on loan to Walsall and the latter moving to the Indian Super League. Riku Danzaki also joined Western United in Australia after his departure from Fir Park was confirmed.
Kettlewell has brought in three new players so far and is looking for more attacking options, but there could be more departures too.
"It's evident that we have to move out one or two players who I feel I am being fair to, if I don't see them fitting into the system or what I am trying to do," he said. "These guys have known that for a period of time.
"That brings me the opportunity to bring in a couple of players if that happens. If that doesn't, then as always I will work with the players I have at my disposal and there will be no complaints.
"But there are one or two other players we have spoken to who we feel their game time might be limited.
"I am not going to go into dramatic detail about that but that's where I am very transparent. The first person that hears that is the player."
Kettlewell has fitness doubts over Stephen O'Donnell and Jon Obika ahead of Saturday's Viaplay Cup Group G decider against East Fife at Fir Park.
Joe Efford is definitely out after suffering another injury setback. The American striker has not played since suffering a thigh injury in October last year, with different issues delaying his comeback.
"Joe has been struggling with another injury," Kettlewell said. "We have been trying to get him back up to speed but it has been really frustrating with the number of times he has had to step out of sessions or games.
"There have been a couple of different things. The last one was a friendly against Dundee United where Joe came in with a complaint during the warm-up and came off very early in the game.
"That's just one of a few we have had since I have been at the football club. I can't control it, I dare say Joe can't control that either, but that's the situation as it sits."
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