Motherwell go into Sunday's game with Stevie Frail taking charge of the team following Stuart Kettlewell’s recent departure from the club.

Kettlewell cited the abuse from fans directed at him and his family as the primary reason for quitting Fir Park, and Brendan Rodgers expressed his sympathy for the former Motherwell boss.

“I’m clearly disappointed for Stuart,” he said. “When I saw the news – for a manager to do that, it really shows the depths of feelings that he had, and he’s absolutely right if it’s affecting his family, because I always say family and football, and it is in that order.

“We all take a bit of stick as managers, and we accept that as a part of it, but when you buy a ticket for the game it doesn’t give you the right to say whatever you want to say.

“And if that goes beyond that, where Stuart and his family are affected – and what people don’t understand is that your kids are having to go to school and they get the torment at school, or out in public, and if the job brings that to them and it makes them insecure over a period of time, then it’s not worth it.

“I’m sad that it got to the point for Stuart that he felt that, and especially at a club like Motherwell. As a club, in my time up here, it looks like a really good club, great people there, they’re a community club.

“So he must have felt really strongly about it to leave which I’m disappointed for him as a young manager that’s gone in and done well. They’re sitting fifth in the league, always competitive, and they got to a national semi-final of a cup competition, progressing them well, making them competitive.

“And I know, when I’ve spoken to him after games or I‘ve spoken to him on the phone, he’s always a very curious guy who wants the best for his club and for his team, so to lose someone like that is disappointing.”

Brendan Rodgers also confirmed that Cameron Carter-Vickers has returned to the squad after missing the midweek Champions League clash with Aston Villa, while Portuguese winger, Jota, will be included in the matchday squad.

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Watch the manager’s full press conference

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