Motherwell duo "very close" to comeback from injury ahead of Ross County clash

Motherwell boss Stuart Kettlewell has revealed striker Mikael Mandron and defender Ricki Lamie are in contention to make their comeback from injury at Ross County on Saturday.

Kettlewell is preparing to take on his former side in a proverbial 'six-pointer' at the bottom end of the Scottish Premiership and the Steelmen could be boosted by the duo returning to the squad, while American striker Jo Efford is also nearing a return.

Former Gillingham hitman Mandron has been out since January when he picked up an injury in training on the eve of a 2-1 defeat at St Mirren. The Frenchman has played just twice since joining in January and netted both goals in a 2-0 Scottish Cup win at Arbroath.

Lamie has been sidelined since a 3-1 defeat Aberdeen last month.

Kettlewell said: "Ricki and Mikael are very close and I would say Joe is an extra week or two away from where they are.

"I think it is just important that, from the medical side of things, we don't want players coming in for a game just to go back out again.

"So I think, looking at this run in, these guys are big players for the football club that add a lot.

"We have been working with the medical guys to have a plan in place so that when they come in, they stay in and they very much give me a headache and a good problem, that they are adding serious quality to the squad.

"They have a chance, but it will be done with the right intention and the intention that they can stay in.

"We will probably assess that over Thursday and Friday.

"They will have markers to hit with the medical team on the rehab side of things, but also getting into that full pitch session with the full group.

"We will assess it off the back of that and see if they are ready to go."

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