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Daily Record
Daily Record
Sport
Andy McGilvray

Kevin van Veen is going nowhere, says Motherwell boss

Motherwell boss Stuart Kettlewell says striker Kevin van Veen is going nowhere, and there has been nothing to suggest otherwise.

With 24 goals to his name and an equalising strike to earn a 1-1 draw with Celtic on their own ground - the first point anybody has taken from there this season - Kettlewell knows there will be interest, but is eager to keep the Dutchman at Fir Park.

But Kettlewell says van Veen has found "a home" and insists there's nothing to suggest that his star player will be prised from his grasp.

Kettlewell said: "There has been absolutely no talk about Kev going elsewhere. I have a brilliant relationship with him, as I keep saying. He loves his team-mates, his team-mates love him, and I know that's the PC way of going about the answer, but it genuinely is.

"Kevin has found a place that's a home, the supporters love him, he performs well for us, and we want to have him.

"There's nothing that suggests to me that's going to change.

"I know throughout Kevin's career - he will speak about it himself, he'll be honest - that at times maybe he hasn't been his best version and maybe others haven't seen the best of him.

Van Veen struck 10 minutes into the second half to take the first Premiership result away from Celtic Park (SNS Group)

"I think he's found a home, and a place where he's coming up with the goods, and he values my feelings towards him, but also his team-mates and the supporters.

"I think that's massive. Sometimes when you've got that, the grass isn't always greener on the other side."

Van Veen struck 10 minutes into the second half, levelling Callum McGregor's deflected strike midway through the first half, and Kettlewell says his strategy paid off.

He said: "We gave Kevin a wee bit of licence to be detached from the rest of the team, and I don't normally do that, I always speak about distances.

Kettlewell says van Veen has found a place where he's valued, and that in turn is bringing out the best in him (SNS Group)

"But it's just that we know he carries a threat in those situations and he maybe makes you feel quite comfortable that you've got him, and you're dealing with him, and one moment of quality in a pass can get him into an area where it's one v one.

"I know he's got masses of work still to do, but again we know that we carry that threat at the top end of the park.

"But I don't think Kevin gets that chance unless the guys behind him perform to the level that they did.

"That was the fundamental for us to go and get something from that game."

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