MOTHERWELL have been left reeling by the news that goalkeeper Trevor Carson has been ruled out for an indefinite period after developing Deep Vein Thrombosis.

The Fir Park number one returned from international duty with Northern Ireland suffering from severe pain in his shoulder, and hospital scans revealed he had developed a blood clot.

Thankfully, the 30-year-old was diagnosed quickly and should make a full recovery, but how long that will take is unknown at the moment.

Manager Stephen Robinson was shocked to hear the news after watching the keeper star for his country against Austria on Sunday night in Belfast and is praying that he makes a speedy return to full health.

“He was away with Northern Ireland and he had pains that were abnormal,” said Robinson. “He obviously had problems with his shoulder before, so we all thought it was that.

“But when he came back he was still having the problems, and our medical staff weren’t happy with it at all and wanted him to go to the doctor.

“He had a lot of pain and ended up in Wishaw General, and the staff up there have been fantastic with him. We have to give them a mention for how well they have treated him, the diagnosis was excellent.

“It’s something you don’t expect as a footballer, a blood clot, but he’s in good hands.

“We’re still in the early stages of the treatment and don’t know how long he will be out, but he’ll get the best treatment and we’ll have him back as soon as we possibly can. There isn’t a timeline on that at the moment though.”

Robinson admits he was stunned when he heard the news about Carson, who he feels has been at the peak of his powers over the last year or so.

“It was a shock,” he said. “Footballers are put on a pedestal and aren’t human beings in most people’s eyes, but they are, and it puts things into perspective.

“Trevor has a young family, so football goes into the background. You just want to make sure that health-wise, he’s 100% ok.

“He’s just had a new baby, but he’ll be fine. He’s in good hands. But it does put football into perspective really, doesn’t it?

“He’s worried. It’s not something you expect as a fit young lad and a professional footballer, but he’s ok.

"He was very worried of course as his family would have been, and while it’s all about getting Trevor treated now and getting him back as quickly as we possibly can, his health is the most important thing.

“As long as he is ok, then we will worry about the football side of things further down the line.”

Robinson is confident that understudy Mark Gillespie will slot into the side seamlessly, and while football concerns are perhaps secondary this week for the Motherwell boss, he doesn’t have his problems to seek on the injury front for today’s match with Aberdeen.

Chris Cadden will be out for a number of weeks having damaged a tendon landing awkwardly against Rangers before the international break, while Charles Dunne won’t be risked this week as he continues his recovery from a groin injury. Carl McHugh is suspended after the red card in that 7-1 thumping by Steven Gerrard's men.

Robinson himself should be able to direct his side from the dugout despite being sent to the stand at Ibrox, with no disciplinary charge yet being put his way by the SFA.

“We’ll put a team out that’s very competitive, treat the Rangers game in isolation, and try to get back to the positive results we had before that,” Robinson said.