MOTHERWELL manager Ian Baraclough has revealed former Manchester City defender Kieran Kennedy is poised to become his next summer signing.

The 21-year-old centre-half came through the ranks at the Etihad before moving to Leicester City following a loan deal last year.

The England Under-19 cap has now been released by the Barclays Premier League club and has already impressed Well boss Baraclough.

Kennedy was out in Holland last week with the Steelmen during their pre-season camp and he also got some game time yesterday in Motherwell's 3-0 friendly defeat to Bradford City in Grangemouth.

He was due to go to Southend at the start of this week for a trial with Phil Brown's men, but instead turned that opportunity down to stay with the Fir Park side.

Baraclough said: "It was difficult for Kieran to come on as a sub as the game is progressing.

"He did very well in Holland and was great with the group. I think there's something close to being agreed on that one.

"He is a free agent so he is a young centre-half that I’m looking to put pressure on the ones already here.

“He’s someone I’ve seen progressing over the last couple of years. He had a good schooling at Man City and Leicester and it’s time to look at him being involved in a first-team squad.”

Motherwell’s game with their claret-and-amber cousins Bradford offered a reality check for the Ladbrokes Premiership side after a week out in Holland.

The game was being played at Grangemouth Stadium with Fir Park’s pitch still not ready after a late end to the season, but initially it didn’t look to trouble Well who started brightly.

Firstly Louis Moult rifled a shot just over while Stephen McManus saw a head cannon off the bar moments later.

However, their promising opening soon withered as the English League One side took the lead on the stroke of half-time as Greg Leigh took advantage of keeper Dan Twardzik being caught out of position to slot home.

On 63 minutes Bradford reshuffled their side and brought on their entire first-team, with trialist and former Partick Thistle centre-half Conrad Balatoni making way. It had an immediate impact as a neatly worked free-kick saw Motherwell switch off and Alan Sheehan slam in from 25 yards.

The result was soon put beyond doubt six minutes later as the Scots conceded from another set-piece, this time substitute James Hanson heading in a corner from the back post.

While Kennedy got around half an hour of game time, there was still no sign of Scott McDonald whose future at Fir Park remains shrouded in mystery.

Motherwell had hoped to hear back last week if the Australian forward would be returning on a permanent deal after a short-term deal proved fruitful last season.

Baraclough insists conversations are still being held with the 31-year-old, and he has urged McDonald to give Well an answer one way or another so both parties can prepare for the new season.

He said: "We are still in dialogue with him and there's decisions to be made by him, that's where we are on that.

"There are two or three players we want to bring in to crucial parts of the team, and he's one of them.

"I think for both sides [we need a decision to be made]. He wants to be involved in pre-season otherwise it will be difficult for him to catch up in the early part of the season wherever he goes.

"For any club, you want to get your players in and get working with them because we have three pre-season first-team games left before the new campaign.

"I think we've both said one way or another we want things decided. The thing with Scott he's had a family issue at home to contend with which may have put a delay on things as well.”