IF things had turned out differently, Trevor Carson may have been lining up in the opposite goalmouth on Sunday at Fir Park. As it is, the Motherwell goalkeeper will take to his home field and brace himself to keep out the potent Celtic attack, while Scott Bain will take the gloves for the champions.

Carson, of course, was subject of a bid from Celtic late in the January transfer window after their number one Craig Gordon picked up a long-term injury, and back-up Dorus de Vries has subsequently joined him on the treatment table.

Motherwell manager Stephen Robinson admits it was a missed opportunity for his keeper, but if Carson keeps up the impressive form he has shown since moving north from Hartlepool in the summer, he is sure that his time will come.

And Robinson has no concerns though about the focus of his number one when he takes to the field on Sunday.

“Trevor is not that kind of boy,” said Robinson. “We had an honest chat, and it wasn’t enough money.

“It was an opportunity for Trevor, but once he knew that the opportunity wasn’t there – and I was dictating when he would go, not him or agents or anyone else – he has knuckled down and he’s been superb.

“He’s got his just rewards with an international call up, and hopefully he will get his senior debut in the coming weeks.

“Trevor will possibly go on to a bigger club, but it will be on our terms, and the only way he can do that is by performing well.”

Robinson believes that being up front with Carson over Celtic’s interest has helped to solidify Carson’s commitment to the Motherwell cause, whatever his long-term ambitions may be.

“I speak to all the players if there’s any interest or any bids that come in, then I’m honest with them,” he said. “I tell them the truth, and sometimes they don’t like it, but if you work like that then you get your rewards.

“The boys respect that, they play for the football club and I believe they play for me too.

“Trevor had no issues, he got on with the job, and he’s been excellent since.”

Robinson is all too aware that his keeper, along with his 10 teammates, will have to be at their very best if they are to upset the odds by turning Celtic over at the weekend.

“They are an excellent team,” he said. “Look at the strength in depth that they have, and the people they bring off the bench to win at Rangers, it tells you the size of the task.

“We’ll have three boys from our academy on the bench and two boys from the academy that will start, so that shows you the gulf in options.

“But we’ll be well-prepared. We’ve got a good defensive record, we’re very good at home and we’ve got a goalkeeper in Trevor Carson who will need to be on top of his game.

“We’re under no illusions, we need 11 people to come on the pitch and be right at the top of their game, have good days and hopefully that’s what we will do.”

A win over Celtic would certainly be the perfect way for Robinson and his players to get over a hugely disappointing performance in last weekend’s defeat to Hamilton.

“We looked at the stats and we actually ran more than in the Hearts game, and there was more high intensity running, which means that people did run in behind and they did press,” he said.

“We just had boys who didn’t play well, simple as that. As a group, they didn’t perform, and as individuals, they didn’t do their jobs. We didn’t perform to the capabilities we know we can do, so we’ve worked on that all week.

“The boys were as disappointed as the fans and as myself, and we’re determined to put that right again.”