MOTHERWELL are moving closer to tying down teen talent Ben Hall as the defender prepares to star in the Youth Cup final.

The 19-year-old has been a sensation at centre-half in the Fir Park first team ever since he was thrown in for his debut against Dundee back in December.

After being brought over from Dungannon Swifts, the Northern Irishman has also played a big part in compatriot Stephen Craigan’s Under-20s team, who meet Hearts at Hampden tomorrow night.

For McGhee, he has nothing but praise for Hall, who is currently out of contract in the summer.

And while the Motherwell manager looks forward to taking his players along to the national stadium to cheer the youngsters on, he revealed to SportTimes that the club are closing in on a new contract for one of their brightest prospects.

“We feel as if we’re close,” said McGhee. “It’s positive.

“Yeah we will all be there. We’re all looking forward to it tremendously.

“I said to Cads [Chris Cadden] during the week that I was going to allow him to play and he looked happier than he did when I told him he was going to play in the first-team for the first time!

“That’s the attitude that group of boys have and we are all backing Crags and his team to go and win it. We’re all really excited about it.”

He added: “If you are in the final that’s what you want to do – win it and doing it on the 25th anniversary of the first-team last winning the cup would be nice..

“I know the boys are preparing well, they are all in a great frame of mind at the opportunity to play at Hampden.”

When Hall first burst on to the Motherwell scene at the turn of the year, there was even talk of the u17 cap making it into Michael O’Neill’s Euro 2016 squad.

Since then injury and the form of Kieran Kennedy has curtailed progress in the Well first-team up until his appearance at the weekend against Hearts.

But with Northern Ireland coach Steve Robinson as McGhee’s assistant and U20 boss Craigan also involved in the IFA set-up, the Motherwell manager has not given up hope his starlet may be strutting his stuff in France this summer.

“I don’t know if that is finished for him, it will all depend on who they have fit,” he said.

“But we think he is a terrific player and he’s fortunate enough to have Steve Robinson who watches him every day, knows the boy’s attitude and the form he’s in.

“He got in on Saturday and he may get to start next week. He might get another outing.

“We’ve got great belief in Ben.”

Speaking ahead of tomorrow’s showpiece at Hampden, U20 manager Craigan added: “Some of them have already played in the first team but when they arrive there hopefully it won’t be as daunting for them as they played in a game like this.

“Ultimately it is about the game itself but for them and us it’s to have a little look at them and see how they cope and deal with it. On the days building up, are they still as chirpy or are they quiet?

“It’s important to keep an eye on them in the dressing room in the build up and maybe have a little word with them.

“It should be excitement, it should be nerves, it should be everything. When I was a younger player, for me it was all about playing at Windsor Park. The Scottish kids here it’ll be about Hampden.

“It’s a big occasion but it’s good for them. They have earned the right to come here and play.”