Theo Bair set Motherwell challenge as Stuart Kettlewell urges hitman to prove he's no one season wonder

Stuart Kettlewell has challenged Theo Bair to prove he’s no one season wonder and join the list of famous number nines in the claret and amber.

The Motherwell hitman has struck 13 goals in the Premiership so far and was rewarded for his stunning form with a spot up front in the PFA Scotland Team of the Year this week. It’s been a sensational transformation for the Canada international who only managed one solitary goal in 18 months at St Johnstone before Kettlewell swooped to take him to Lanarkshire. But the Well boss insists there’s more to come from the 6ft 3in powerhouse. He said: “You need to build a story, I keep saying this.

“Theo’s had a good run. But the challenge now becomes that consistency, how do you continually do it, how do you improve on what you did previously. It’s just starting to use that game experience, to use your voice, to communicate with your team-mates in-game and off it, drills and between sessions. To solve problems, to come up with solutions.

“With Theo in particular, there’s this real focus on ‘I need to improve’ and ‘I need to get better’. He’s really starting to understand how he can pose problems to the opposition.

“We had a spell at the start, I think he scored on the opening day against Dundee but then we went on a barren spell. It’s just trying to make sure that you still influence games, especially when you’re a goal-scorer not at your best.

“That’s a mentality aspect and a bit of nous – just to sniff out a chance. We’ve done a lot of work surrounding the selection of finishing because he’s missed a lot of chances in that as well.

“It’s 13 league goals, but he’s also had a lot that he’s kicked himself with that he’s missed. Glaring opportunities as well. I think it’s not festering on