STEPHEN Robinson admits he is not sure Motherwell can afford to keep hold of winger Lionel Ainsworth.

The Englishman could very well play his last game in claret and amber tomorrow afternoon in Inverness, with his deal at Fir Park due to run out this summer.

Ainsworth has been a fan favourite ever since he arrived from Rotherham back in 2013. Since then, the 29-year-old has been the scorer of many 
stunning goals for the Steelmen, including at Ibrox as Motherwell stung Rangers two years ago in the Premiership play-off final.

His latest effort was of an even higher quality. Through a free-kick on Tuesday, the Well winger helped safeguard Motherwell’s top-flight status for another season in a 3-1 win over Kilmarnock. 
Despite his impact, 

Ainsworth has found a run of games difficult this season. Often used from the bench, he has notched just four goals in 34 appearances.

Robinson is well aware of the talents of a player keen to extend his stay at Fir Park, but acknowledges the situation is not that straightforward.

He said: “The thing with Lionel is just consistency and belief. Whether we can keep Lionel or not I don’t know. I’m not sure if we have the finances to do that.

“He is someone who does come on and change games. I didn’t play him on Saturday because it was going to be a scrap and that’s not what 
Lionel has in his armoury, but he came on and did brilliantly for us against Kilmarnock.

“He has done well defensively, he did do it when he came on against Hamilton as well. It’s maybe something a lot of people don’t see, but we’ve been trying to work on it with him. 

“I tried to do it before I left with him and Marvin Johnson. I think Lionel does buy into what we are trying to do and you can see his enthusiasm. He’s got a little bit of zip about him.

“Whether we are able to sit down and speak to him I’m not too sure.”

Motherwell can almost turn their attention to the forthcoming campaign and their attempts to try to build a team strong enough to keep them out of harm’s way next year.

Firstly, though, they have the task of bringing the current term to a close against an Inverness team desperate to stay up. However, Robinson is not ready to waste time in his preparations.

He said: “I’m going to speak to everyone after the game at Inverness. We want to win three games in a row.

“This is the first time we have won two and I’m not someone who rests on his laurels. I want to keep progressing and that’s the mentality I want to get into this football club.

“We will get the Inverness game out the way and then we will sit down with all the players and see how we go.”