Motherwell boss Stuart Kettlewell hopes Andy Halliday back from calf injury soon

Motherwell manager Stuart Kettlewell hopes to have Andy Halliday available to face Celtic a week on Saturday after the midfielder missed Wednesday’s 3-3 draw against Aberdeen with a calf problem.

The issue restricted Halliday’s time on the pitch against Ross County and Morton and the 32-year-old is ineligible to play against parent club Hearts on Saturday anyway.

“He has had a bit of an issue with his calf,” Kettlewell said. “Obviously it was disappointing to lose him because he has been really influential for us.

“His calf was a little bit tight, hence why we took him off fairly early in the Ross County game.

“Andy felt he was in a decent enough position to continue to training and playing.

“There were probably some eyebrows why I didn’t start him against Morton, that was simply it, he had a bit of tightness in his calf.

“Then from putting him on the pitch there, he had a little bit of a reaction. We are hoping it’s nothing too serious.

“Andy has never had too many muscle injuries, in fact I don’t think he has had any. His last start for Hearts was in April, then he played three games in six or seven days.

“We will be hopeful he will be fit and ready to go the week after.”