Leeds United set to release Stuart McKinstry as English and Scottish clubs circle midfielder

Leeds United are set to release winger Stuart McKinstry when his contract expires this summer.

The 20-yea-old has been on a season-long loan at home town club Motherwell, where he started his career, but that hasn't gone as well as he would have hoped, with him playing 24 times this season and scoring four goals.

McKinstry's playing time under new boss Stuart Kettlewell has been limited, with his last appearance coming in the 2-1 defeat at home to Dundee United on April 15 - which was his first under Kettlewell, and his only game since the 3-1 Scottish Cup defeat at Raith Rovers on February 11.

Things aren't great at Leeds United either, with McKinstry's loan agreed by Marcelo Bielsa, who is now four managers ago. Sam Allardyce was recently brought in to try and save the Elland Road club from relegation, replacing Javi Gracia's three-month term, with Michael Skubula between him and American Jesse Marsch, who took over from Bielsa in February 2022.

That somewhat mirrors life at Fir Park too, with Steven Hammell coming in after Graham Alexander's departure, and Kettlewell taking over in February.

McKinstry is at an age where he will need first-team football, which is what was behind his loan move to Motherwell in the first place.

A host of clubs north and south of the border are believed to be interested in signing McKinstry, with a Championship club the most likely destination, should he return to England.

Follow Lanarkshire Live Sport onTwitter via@LanLiveSport, like us onFacebookor find us onInstagramfor the latest sports news, pictures and video.