BY KYLE GUNN

ST MIRREN boss Oran Kearney says he’s not got a problem with Motherwell’s team selection against Celtic, ahead of the two teams meeting at Fir Park tomorrow.

The Steelmen made five changes as they went down 3-0 at Parkhead on Wednesday night.

And Kearney insists it’s up fellow Northern Irishman Stephen Robinson, who will serve the first of a three game touchline ban with another two suspended, how he uses his squad. 

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He said: “I wouldn’t take it as a compliment, I’d say it is to be expected more than anything else with the busy list of fixtures that are on the board for the month of December.

"I’m not speaking on behalf of Stephen but I’d say he’s in football long enough to be able to make those priorities and I suppose you can make them as subtly or blatantly as you want. 

"But it’s clear to see where he feels the points will come from this week, or where he sees the best opportunity."

The sides met at the end of October and Motherwell ran out 2-0 in Paisley and Kearney is desperate to come away with all three points.

He continued: “The key thing for us is that we are playing a side that are down in the area that we are also in.

READ MORE: St Mirren 1-2 Aberdeen: Frustrating day for Oran Kearney's men

"For me, these games are more important than the ones against the teams in the top six in relation to the points picked up. The head to heads are very important.

"The fact we are playing a side that are within touching distance of us means it is so important that we bring them back in to the mix and don’t allow them to get too far away from us."