KENNY BLACK admits that the international break has proven a godsend for Motherwell.

The Fir Park side found themselves undermined by injury and suspension in their last outing when three of their established back four were missing from the 3-0 loss to Dundee United.

But Shaun Hutchinson will return from his ban for the trip to Kilmarnock on Saturday and full-back Stevie Hammell is likely to recover from injury, although Simon Ramsden remains a doubt with a hamstring.

The break has also allowed skipper Keith Lasley to receive treatment for a troublesome groin and the rest period has allowed Las to return to training today.

Young midfielder Stuart Carswell is also fully fit after shaking off a knock he received in the United game.

Well assistant gaffer Black, who has been in charge while manager Stuart McCall has been on Scotland duty, said: "The international break definitely came at the right time for us.

"Against United it was a case of a patchwork side with three of our regular back line out and then we had guys starting that one who were struggling with injury, like Keith Lasley, and players like Stuart Carswell who picked up knocks during it.

"We are not going to make excuses for that one, United played very well indeed, but I think the supporters who make their way to Rugby Park will see a very different Motherwell side taking the field both in terms of its make-up and its fitness.

"Although you know that at some stage in a season you will have to utilise the full depth in your squad, when it comes to making those sort of wholesale changes in one game then there is going to be an impact."