Motherwell boss Stuart Kettlewell has expressed his disappointment at losing striker Mika Biereth, who has been recalled by Premier League side Arsenal.
The 20-year-old has been a fan favourite during his time at the club having scored six goals and chipped in with five assists in 14 appearances and his departure leaves the Steelmen is a difficult position as the season gets back underway in Scotland.
Kettlewell said at his press conference this morning,
“Mika has been recalled, It’s been a bit of a difficult one for us over the last 24 hours. Arsenal have called him back, it’s a major major disappointment to us of course as they feel he’s been in a terrific position, they’ve loved the working environment here. Again I go back to the personal relationship with myself and the player and the staff to the player, it’s been terrific it’s been really really good.
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Motherwell currently sit 9th in the Premiership table, having scored 25 goals in 21 games this season. It was hoped that the Danish youth international could help propel the Fir Park outfit up the league in the second half of the campaign, but Kettlewell revealed his departure took the club somewhat by surprise:
“This was a little bit unexpected.” he added. “The conversation surrounded that Mika would stay here until the end of the season as early as last week that he would 100% be staying at Motherwell, unless something really big came on the table for Arsenal, something that they thought was an opportunity that they can’t turn down.
“I’m certainly not belittling my football club because I think we’re excellent at what we’ve been doing. Mika Biereth being another example but there’s a situation there, there’s a circumstance there that’s completely out of our hands that they believe that there’s an opportunity to send him to another club that takes him that step beyond where we are.
“There’s a recall in all of these loans and we felt unless something major came in that Mika was going to be here. But it seems an opportunity has come about.”
