Stuart Kettlewell targets Motherwell adrenaline shot as Jon Obika sets sights on Hearts again

Stuart Kettlewell has no idea if he’ll be Motherwell manager beyond Sunday.

But the caretaker insists the adrenaline rush after the whistle blew on Wednesday’s 2-1 win over St Mirren has whet his appetite to get back in the dug out permanently. Kettlewell, who has been told by Fir Park chiefs he will remain in charge against Hearts on Sunday, is on a three-man shortlist to replace Steven Hammell with Grant McCann and Ian Holloway.

The former Ross County boss delivered a first league win since October and first at home since August during midweek to give his chances a boost. And although there’s been no further conversation with Well chiefs over his long-term position he said: “The message has been clear - will I take the team on Sunday? I have accepted that challenge and want to help.

“This does whet my appetite because you want to see whether you can make a difference. When you hear supporters cheering at the end of the 90 minutes.. you can’t recreate the adrenaline buzz I got when John Beaton blew the final whistle the other night.

“You can’t beat being personally involved like that. It’s everything you want from football and why we all keep working in the game so it was nice to experience it again. Sunday is now a different challenge with a different thought process and I just hope we have the same feeling at the end of that one.”

Well dug in to beat Saints despite the Buddies reducing the deficit before half time to lift themselves to ninth, three points off bottom spot. But Kettlewell insists the Fir Park squad is in a false position and should be aiming to keep climbing.

He said: “There can be scenarios where you think you are where you should be in the table but I don’t think that’s the case with this group. The