Celtic star Kyogo Furuhashi in Motherwell striker's sights in bid for career-best scoring tally

Motherwell star Kevin van Veen has Celtic star Kyogo Furuhashi in his sights after bagging a late brace to sink Ross County on Saturday.

The Dutchman took his tally to 17 for the season with his goals in a 2-0 win over the Staggies in the Highlands, adding to the hat-trick he produced against them in Dingwall earlier in the season.

Victory over Malky Mackay's men fired the Steelmen six points clear of their rivals in the Premiership and ninth-place Motherwell now sit 10 points clear of rock bottom Dundee United as new boss Stuart Kettlewell's strong start to life at Fir Park continued.

Motherwell have now taken 10 points from 12 under his stewardship to put them on track to avoid relegation, which seemed a distinct possibility just a few weeks ago.

Players are finding their form again and van Veen is one such case, and as well as firing Motherwell up the table, he is targeting Scotland's top scorer Furuhashi.

Celtic's Japanese striker has hit 24 goals in all competitions this season for the league leaders, leaving van Veen six goals behind him in the overall standings and league charts (19 compared to 13).

But the 31-year-old is eager to get close to Kyogo's figures and pick up a career-best total in the progress.

Van Veen said: "I’m on 17 now but it could easily have been 20-plus already.

“I gave a penalty to Louis Moult against Hearts to give him confidence and I missed the one against Dundee United.

“There are others I missed as well that are still haunting me because I am a perfectionist.

“I want to bang everything in and the easiest chances I have missed while the tougher ones I have scored.

"From now on, everything is going to hit the back of the net. I am confident I won’t miss anything any more.

“My highest total