JACK LEITCH is optimistic as he sets out on the road to recovery after having major knee surgery.

The Motherwell midfielder has gone under the knife after rupturing his posterior cruciate ligament during an Under-20 clash with St Johnstone earlier this month.

He has followed the lead of Fir Park team-mate Craig Moore in being taken into the care of Dr Gordon Watson at Ross Hall hospital in Glasgow.

Moore was the first player in the world to be treated by Watson using a new technique to fix anterior cruciate ligament damage.

And the Well kid is confident he can make a speedy recovery this season. Leitch said: "Obviously no-one likes to get injured, but I am feeling upbeat about things. The surgery has gone well and to plan, and I can't wait to start the recovery process now.

"Craig worked extremely hard and I need to follow that lead, mirror what he did and hopefully get the same results.

"Craig did his ACL but my problem was around the back, the PCL, and the surgeon said it wasn't a usual football injury, but something more common in snow boarding or car accidents. This is probably the first major injury I've had to deal with so it will probably test my character a little bit, but I am sure I will be strong enough to come through it.

"I will now work with Adam Stokes, who is a fantastic physiotherapist, and try and use the time to improve my overall fitness. I am absolutely targeting to be back as soon as possible and want to play as much a part of the current season as possible."

Meanwhile, Motherwell defender Adam Cummins has joined Ayr on a month's loan.

He has made 33 appearances for the Motherwell first team but has not featured for about a year, following a temporary spell at Dundee and injury problems this season.