Stuart Kettlewell concedes the Motherwell reality that makes Kevin van Veen return difficult despite open door

Stuart Kettlewell insists Kevin van Veen’s numbers in front of goal would always make him a very real target for Motherwell. The problem for the Steelmen right now is the financial figures involved in getting him back to Lanarkshire don’t.

Kettlewell would love to have Van Veen leading his line again and still speaks to the Fir Park hero who this week alerted Scottish clubs to a potential January exit from Groningen and name checked Motherwell. His own relationship with the striker would maybe even swing things in Well’s favour - but only if the 32-year-old took a hit in the pocket.

The Dutchman signed off from Fir Park in the summer after a remarkable record-breaking 11-game scoring run to finish the season on 29 goals. According to Van Veen, Rangers were among the pack of clubs interested in prising him away from Fir Park before he opted to return home to Groningen. But things have turned sour in the second tier of Dutch football and he has been dropped by Dick Lukkien with whom he admits he “crossed the line” in one frank discussion.

Adding to his unrest, Van Veen is due to become a dad in the next few weeks and with his partner still in Scotland admits he would find it hard to play outside the country. But Kettlewell said: “Whatever happens is down to the club who currently owns him.

"We could come up with a theory and a number of other clubs could do the same if Kevin says he wants to come back to Scotland But ultimately it comes down to Groningen. If it was a loan or however it looked, it’s not the suitors who dictate that, it’s the club who hold his current contract.

“Less than six months ago we sold him and circumstances change in football. So who knows but all I’m trying to indicate is we couldn’t keep Kevin