Keeper Connor Ripley would consider Motherwell loan return
Connor Ripley would not rule out a return to Motherwell next season if Middlesbrough do not believe he is ready to push for their number-one spot.
The goalkeeper has impressed and improved during his loan spell at Fir Park, helping Motherwell seal a top-six place in the Ladbrokes Premiership.
The 23-year-old's ambition remains to follow in the footsteps of his father, Stuart Ripley, and become a first-team regular for Boro, but he appreciates he may have to go out on loan again next season.
When asked what lies ahead for him, Ripley said: "I don't have a clue. Middlesbrough have said to me to go out on loan and get experience.
"They are pushing for the Premier League and they need an experienced goalkeeper. I've got games now and they can't say I'm not experienced so that's good for me.
"But if they don't think I'm there yet then I will probably go back out on loan somewhere for another season and do my thing there, then hopefully get in the team for Middlesbrough."
When asked whether he would return for another season under Mark McGhee, he added: "If he wants me back and everything is all right, and I don't think there will be any other team, then of course I would, but preferably I would like to stay in England, closer to my family and my home really.
"But, let's be honest, I don't think I would turn Motherwell down."
Motherwell begin their post-split fixtures at home to Hearts, but no longer have the carrot of a potential European place for finishing fourth following Celtic's William Hill Scottish Cup exit.
They will host the Gorgie outfit without defender Louis Laing (groin) and midfielder Stephen Pearson (broken ribs/punctured lung) while James McFadden (broken ankle) remains sidelined.
Only suspensions prevent Hearts head coach Robbie Neilson from taking a full squad to Fir Park.
Full-back Juwon Oshaniwa and centre-half Igor Rossi are both banned but midfielder Don Cowie has shaken off a calf strain to declare himself fit for high-flying Hearts.
Neilson's side have sealed third place and Callum Paterson reckons no-one should be surprised.
A year on from escaping the second tier, the Jambos are celebrating a return to European competition.
It is a commendable achievement, especially given Neilson was uncertain his team would even make the top six when they kicked off their campaign back in August.
But Paterson insists he was always confident Hearts - who will now enter next season's Europa League at the first qualifying round stage on June 30 - would find themselves mixing it with the big guns come the end of the season.
He told the club's official website: "I've not been surprised at all to be honest.
"Our top-six goal was perhaps a tad on the safe side, we always felt we had the ability to achieve that. From there we set ourselves a target of a top-four spot and now we're obviously third, so we've done well to get there.
"So we're now looking to finish the season on a high and then come back full of confidence for pre-season."
Source: PAR
