James McFadden may yet return to Motherwell next season after Mark McGhee revealed the talisman be given the chance to earn a new contract.

The cult hero joined earlier in the season on a short deal before a dream move to the MLS eventually fell through.

Faddy then signed an extension until the end of the season, featuring in claret and amber twice before a broken ankle halted any chance of featuring further in Well’s season.

The Fir park club have vowed to stick by the 33-year-old and get him back to full fitness this summer.

And McGhee has told McFadden that the door is not closed on him proving he has what it takes to prolong his stay in Lanarkshire into the new campaign.

“Faddy, on the terms he was on, was easy to have here,” said McGhee ahead of tomorrow’s visit of Hearts. “What we have to do now is be loyal to Faddy and get him fit and give him an opportunity, if he’s not for us, to show other people that he is fit and able to play.

“He’s been contributing in lots of ways here. He may have only played a couple of games but he’s fantastic on the training ground, he brings another level out of the other players and is a great influence around the place.

“So Faddy will be given every chance to prove himself.”

Dubbed ‘The Class of 02’ by Motherwell fans, McFadden makes up a unique group of players entering the final stages of their careers at the same place at all began.

Captain, Keith Lasley and full-back Steven Hammell are another two in that special group who have aspirations to prolong their spells in Lanarkshire.

They are also joined with experienced pros Stephen McManus and Scott McDonald that make up an out-of-contract contingent who have helped haul Motherwell from second-bottom to fourth top in a dramatic season.

McGhee intends to reward them for their efforts, and said: “I don’t think any of them have shown any signs that they’ve not got more left in the tank. They are fantastic characters.

“A good friend of mine who has a good view on it has said to me ‘I can say all I like about Chris Cadden, Ben Hall and all the young lads but when he comes to watch us he sees Lasley, McManus, Hammill and McDonald. They are the important ones.’

“That remains true. It’s good to have guys like them who have played over 700 games between them for Motherwell. They have the club at heart and that has been shown.

“Also having the likes of Las, Mick and Faddy coaching the young players. They want to be managers in the future and I think we can develop a succession here. There are people here who can be here for a long time.”

McGhee added: “Now we’ve crossed that line and got into the top six the boys who are out of contract can now chap my door.

“We already have in mind what we think we’re going to do so I’ll be talking to them all. We’ve already spoken to one or two about our intentions but there’s not going to be many leaving.

“I believe strongly that this lot have acquitted themselves pretty well so why change? What we want to do is improve so there’s not going to be some sort of mass clearout here.

“You’ve got the ones who are under contract that you can do nothing about and then there are those under contract that you want to keep - and the majority of those we want to stay.”