[DavidMc]

Motherwell expect to secure Kennedy

Motherwell hope to tie up a loan deal for Celtic defender John Kennedy early this week despite reported interest from other clubs.

The 24-year-old joined Well at their training camp in Austria last week and is set to stay with Celtic's Scottish Premier League rivals until January.

Well boss Mark McGhee said: "I don't see any barriers to us signing John.

"We just need to sort out the financial side and I'd hoped it would have been done by now."

Kennedy has recently returned to full fitness after damaging his knee against Shakhtar Donetsk in the Champions League in November.

Celtic boss Gordon Strachan is thought to be keen for Kennedy to get more games and feels the player will benefit from a short-term move. Pidgeley will get another chance and the same goes for Jim O'Brien

Motherwell manager Mark McGhee

Meanwhile, Spanish midfielder Angel Robles and German defender Mark Le Rande will not be offered deals following their trial spell with Motherwell.

But Celtic winger Jim O'Brien and Millwall goalkeeper Lenny Pidgeley will keep training with the Steelmen.

"Pidgeley will get another chance and the same goes for Jim," McGhee added.

O'Brien, 21, had joined Kennedy in Austria, with the Lanarkshire club aiming to sign him on a permanent deal.

McGhee said he would assess the player and decide what kind of fee the club should offer Celtic for his services.

Scotland Under-21 winger O'Brien has found it difficult to break into the first team at Celtic Park and is eager for a move to Fir Park following loan spells at Dunfermline and Dundee United.