Motherwell boss Stuart Kettlewell insists 'more to come' from hero Theo Bair

Stuart Kettlewell is delighted that Theo Bair has found his way into the PFA Scotland Premiership team of the season, but says there’s more to come from the Motherwell striker.

Bair, 24, has netted 13 goals in 36 games this season, having signed on a free transfer last summer, having scored just one for St Johnstone in the previous campaign.

Kettlewell says that’s testament to Bair and how much he has improved, but also something that the boss and the club should be proud of, in terms of player development.

The Fir Park gaffer said: “I’m delighted for him. I’m a huge believer in those success stories – not for my ego, not for anybody to pat me on the back – but for the individual and the player.

“When you’ve got to ride out such difficult moments as what Theo has done, not only here but St Johnstone, and trying to make his way in the top flight of Scottish football, then I just think it’s testament to the man, to his character.

“Theo is a student of the game, he really buys into the information and detail that comes across, the work ethic of spending that time on the pitch to try and improve and learn his trade.

“I think if you look at my past and my history, those are the types of players that I gravitate to, people that have started from a lower rung on the ladder, if you like, and where there has been real doubt.

“Possibly with Theo that might be the biggest change in people’s opinion.

“There will be a lot of people sitting now saying ‘I told you so, I knew he was going to be a good player’ but I can assure you that there was plenty of abuse directed towards him, myself and the coaching staff, and the football club.

“It’s never a ‘prove you wrong’, it’s just that when you have a belief in something and you think somebody can reach the levels that he has done.

“But I need to go on record again and say I don’t think he has achieved anything or done anything.

“Theo has possibly changed a lot of people’s perception of what he is as a player, but I think there’s lots of quality still to come from him, and I think there’s a lot of development still to come from him.”

Kettlewell added: “It arguably is one of the biggest stories, in my opinion, in Scottish football.

“I think there have been a lot of players that have emerged in Scottish football this year, one or two guys who have come up from Dundee United in the Championship and really cut their teeth in this division.

“You look at Theo Bair, who has been here. There have been a lot of success stories, and it’s nice to see one from our club getting in that team of the year, because I think that’s the one that speaks volumes, because that’s your peers, that’s the guys you play against and compete against every single week.

“I think that’s a pretty special achievement.”

Motherwell won’t be able to throw money around this summer, but Kettlewell says players should be looking at the club’s track record of improving players and, in some cases, moving them on.

He said: “We’re not in a position where we’re going to be able to blow anybody out of the water in this league with what we can offer, financially, but sometimes, in terms of recruitment, you need to look at the bigger picture.

“You need to look at a place where you’re given an opportunity, and maybe where there’s a plan and detail there that shows player development.

“I’m such a big believer in that, but I could throw a good number of names at you in that sense over the last year and a half, but so could the football club beyond that.

“Motherwell, as a club, is a really good breeding ground for players to improve, but it’s not just Theo Bair at 24, who has had a tough spell.

“It’s guys like Blair Spittal, Kevin van Veen, Max Johston, Mika Biereth, Brodie Spencer – I could rhyme off an awful lot more, and I’m pretty proud of that, and I think the club should be proud of that.

“But it’s no one size fits all, I think you need to understand the player, where they are in their career, and their potential and how far they can travel.”

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