STEPHEN ROBINSON believes the fact that Celtic have tried and failed to capture Trevor Carson is another sign that Motherwell’s recruitment is at a high level.

The Steelmen turned down a £200,000 offer on Monday as Celtic seek to strengthen the goalkeeping situation with the news that Craig Gordon is effectively out for the rest of the season with a knee injury.

There has also been interested in Cedric Kipre, Charles Dunne and Chris Cadden and Robinson is hopeful he can keep all of them after insisting Carson is as important as Louis Moult’s goals used to be.

The Fir Park manager, however, has to make sure Carson is in the right frame of mind to face Hibs at Easter Road tonight.

He said: “What it does is prove our scouting network is working and we are bringing the right players in.

“Brendan had the courtesy to ring me and told me he was interested in Trevor. The two money men Alan Burrows and Peter Lawwell got together but their valuation and ours are a long way apart.

“Trevor has two-and-a-half years on his contract and the only way I will sell him is if his valuation is met.

“Players are human and they see a huge club like Celtic, money that could transform their lives, but that’s football.

“Clubs have to meet our valuation or they won’t go. Trevor is a very focused boy who will be fine on Wednesday.

“I am sure down the line we will get our valuation because he is a top goalkeeper.

“People talk about Louis Moult but they don’t give credit to the other end of the pitch. He has kept us in games when we have 1-0.

“When he produces saves people don’t talk about it because it isn’t sexy. Trevor is a rock for us and to lose him would be a huge blow. To replace him in 24 hours would be near impossible.

“What he has to do is weigh up whether he would be going as No1, 2, or 3. I can’t answer that because I’m not Brendan Rodgers.

“He is fighting to be Northern Ireland’s goalkeeper and in my opinion he is right up there with Michael McGovern.

“I can’t dictate what other clubs do, if someone comes in for him or our other players. We are doing our due diligence and it becomes less likely as it gets closer to the end of the window.

“We are looking at goalkeepers anyway, we always work way ahead of ourselves. Whether we can do something will remain to be seen.

“But if we sell Trevor for the money we are talking about I might as well pack up and move to my flat in Spain.”

With Moult having moved to Preston earlier in the window, Curtis Main and Nadir Ciftci have been drafted in and full back Richard Tait reckons they can prove to be a potent strike-force.

He said: “I think everyone could see at the weekend against Hearts how important Curtis can be for us.

“Nadir is a very good player and he holds up the ball well and he linking up with Curtis really well. The boys have hit the ground running since they come and hopefully that continues.

“They are different players to Louis but I think Curtis showed how much his work rate helps us, a bit like Louis. We have Ryan Bowman to come back so that is good competition.

“Curtis is a big, strong boy. He puts himself about and gets himself involved and that’s what you want in your striker.

“There is nothing worse as a defender to play against someone who doesn’t give you a minute’s peace. He must be a nuisance to play against.

“His goal against Ross County was a great finish. It was very composed. I was in the stand and I said ‘that’s some finish’.

“He is a threat in front of goal which is nice to have. When Louis left people might have been worried but it is looking promising for us. He was a fantastic player but Curtis has come in and been prolific for us, so hopefully they can take the mantle from Louis.”