Conor Ripley says that Motherwell's players are working flat-out to turn around their stuttering season.

The on-loan Middlesbrough keeper, who worked under Gordon Strachan at the Riverside, says that the Scotland manager’s number two Mark McGhee adopts a similar approach to training.

“There are a few similarities between them as managers - especially the fitness stuff,” he said.

“We went with Strachan to La Manga and it’s completely the same.

“Don’t get me wrong, it’s good - it gets you fit, but it’s tough.

“I saw the lads doing doggies around the pitch and just thought - I’ve done that.

“One of the best - but brutal - pre-seasons I’ve had was under Strachan.

“I don’t think I’ll ever go through anything like that again. I don’t want to! There were players being sick all over the place. It wasn’t nice.

“We had the likes of Leroy Lita and Lee Miller and I remember doing this SAS training routine. We had to carry this massive log up a hill.

“I just remember Lee at the back. He was struggling to carry himself never mind the log!

“You can see the similarities between McGhee and Strachan, it could get tough but it’s good.

“People think the keepers get away with it but it’s not true. Jim Hollman absolutely batters us in training! It’s the same at Boro. We don’t get away with much these days.

“It was Strachan who brought me into the first team. I enjoyed it when he was there. I don’t think the fans really liked him but I did!

“We had Jim Blyth as goalkeeper coach and I enjoyed working with him. I was gutted when he left.

“I was just a kid but I loved being part of the training and getting used to the high standard.

“I was with Scott (McDonald) and big Mick (Stephen McManus) back then and can’t speak highly enough about them. Mick in particular has been a great help to me in my career so far.

“It was great to join them here.”

Whilst Motherwell’s results aren’t currently going the way that Ripley would like, he says that he is desperate to stay at Fir Park until at least the end of the season.

His willingness to remain in Scotland comes from the desire to play first-team football, but also to prove that the Steelmen are currently in a false position.

“I’ve been here a few months now but it’s all gone so quickly,” he said.

“The standard has surpassed my expectations.

“I’d never even been in Scotland and I was probably a bit naive. I thought the standard wouldn’t be as good as it is. I got a shock - but a good shock.

“I’m really enjoying it, mostly because I’m playing. I was first choice out in Sweden before and going back to sit on the bench was a killer. It’s soul destroying at times.

“I’ve made it clear I want to stay. Motherwell have been in touch with Middlesbrough but they are not going to decide right now.

“They don’t want to commit in case two keepers get injured in a freak accident or something.

“It can happen I guess, but it means we’ll probably wait until the last few days in January.

“I’d love to get a few points on the board but it’s not always as straight-forward.

“Just look at Chelsea. They have some of the best players in the world yet they are in the bottom half. I’m not comparing us to Chelsea, it’s just that football can be like that.

“We have good players here but we just need that one game that clicks and gives us a bit of momentum.

“I’ve looked at the table - we are only about 5 points off 6th. I’d be much more worried if we were 12 points off. We just need to keep calm.”