Stuart Kettlewell to get 'creative' in hunt for new Motherwell striker
Motherwell manager Stuart Kettlewell admits his striker hunt is an ever-changing scenario as he prepares to face St Johnstone with Theo Bair as his only experienced option.
The departures of Mika Biereth, Conor Wilkinson and Oli Shaw plus a hamstring tear for Jon Obika, who faces "at least another few weeks" out have left Motherwell desperately short up front.
Mark Ferrie will return to the squad following the end of his loan spell with Stenhousemuir, although the 18-year-old could not break into the runaway League 2 leaders' starting line-up.
Motherwell were this week linked with a move to take James Scott back to Fir Park from Exeter but he joined former Well boss Stephen Robinson at St Mirren instead.
On his hunt for a striker, Kettlewell said: "It's been the priority since the start of the window but as we all know January is a tough window.
"We have spoken to a lot of players and clubs and tried to dress up a number of situations, some of which looked really positive, and sometimes you fall flat on your face.
"But I suppose that is part and parcel of it in a transfer window. You get a bit annoyed and frustrated at a number of people along the way but you always have that plan B, C and D and think about other routes you can go down.
"And you need to have players that want to come to your club - the guys that jump through hoops to get here are always the best players for you."
Given Obika has suffered three hamstring injuries and only started seven league games since first joining the club 12 months ago, Kettlewell would naturally want more than one striker in.
But he said: "I want to get one in first and then I will see where I am from there. What does that leave us in terms of finances?
"There are so many things in question, everything depends on money and availability.
"The situation is evolving all the time, we are having to shift the goalposts depending on being turned down by a player or whether we can afford one, or if we can afford him does that mean it's only one rather than two?
"Because we have had so many injuries, we sometimes have to think about having that cover and ensuring it's maybe more than one."
After Arsenal recalled Biereth to send him out to Austrian title challengers Sturm Graz and successful spells for the likes of James Furlong and Brodie Spencer plus current loanee Georgie Gent, Kettlewell is hoping to persuade major clubs to trust him with their young players.
"We have been working in that fashion, if we are speaking to clubs about young loan players we believe we can evidence the opportunities here and that they will flourish in this environment," he said.
"But that sometimes still comes down to money and relationships with other clubs."
Kettlewell might have some more experience to call on in Perth after naming six 17-year-olds on his bench for last weekend's win over Alloa.
New Zealand international Callan Elliot and former Hearts midfielder Sam Nicholson joined this week but both are short of match fitness, while Dan Casey and Shane Blaney are back on the training pitch following injury but will not necessarily be ready.
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