By Lewis Rutledge Last updated: 14th July 2008
Kennedy: Loan deal
Motherwell have snapped up defender John Kennedy on loan from Celtic.
The 24-year-old suffered the second serious knee injury of his career when he was stretchered off in Celtic's UEFA Champions League game against Shakhtar Donetsk last season.
He has now been allowed to link up with Motherwell, and manager Mark McGhee is delighted to have secured his services.
McGhee will monitor Kennedy's fitness on a pre-season tour of Austria this week before giving him his debut against Wolves next Wednesday.
"I would think Celtic will want to see how well John does and then bring him back to challenge for a first-team place in their setup," McGhee explained in the Daily Record.
"He won't play on this trip but it will give him time to get ready and get to know everybody.
"John will make his debut against Wolves but it's still to be decided whether or not he will play for us in the Uefa Cup.
"But in the meantime I've seen enough of him to know his size and physique make him perfect for what we're looking for at Motherwell."
McGhee has also agreed a loan deal with Celtic for highly-rated young forward Jim O'Brien.
The 20-year-old Irishman has previously had loan spells with Dunfermline and Dundee United, and will be hoping to continue his development at Fir Park.

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| Time | Fixture |
|---|---|
| Saturday 28th November | |
| Clydesdale Bank Premier League | |
| 12:45 | Aberdeen vs Rangers |
| 15:00 | Celtic vs St Mirren |
| 15:00 | Hibernian vs Falkirk |
| 15:00 | Kilmarnock vs Hearts |
| 15:00 | Motherwell vs Dundee Utd |
| 15:00 | St Johnstone vs Hamilton |
| Saturday 5th December | |
| Clydesdale Bank Premier League | |
| 12:30 | Falkirk vs Rangers |
| 15:00 | Celtic vs Aberdeen |
| 15:00 | Dundee Utd vs St Mirren |
| 15:00 | Hibernian vs Motherwell |
| 15:00 | St Johnstone vs Kilmarnock |
| Sunday 6th December | |
| Clydesdale Bank Premier League | |
| 12:45 | Hamilton vs Hearts |
| Saturday 12th December | |
| Clydesdale Bank Premier League | |
| 12:45 | Motherwell vs Celtic |
| 15:00 | Aberdeen vs Hamilton |
| 15:00 | Hearts vs Dundee Utd |
| 15:00 | Kilmarnock vs Hibernian |
| 15:00 | Rangers vs St Johnstone |
| 15:00 | St Mirren vs Falkirk |
| Tuesday 15th December | |
| Clydesdale Bank Premier League | |
| 19:45 | Dundee Utd vs Rangers |
| Saturday 19th December | |
| Clydesdale Bank Premier League | |
| 15:00 | Aberdeen vs Hibernian |
| Time | Result |
|---|---|
| Sunday 22nd November | |
| Clydesdale Bank Premier League | |
| Dundee Utd 2 - 1 Celtic | |
| Saturday 21st November | |
| Clydesdale Bank Premier League | |
| Hearts 1 - 2 St Johnstone | |
| St Mirren 1 - 1 Hibernian | |
| Falkirk 2 - 0 Hamilton | |
| Rangers 3 - 0 Kilmarnock | |
| Motherwell 1 - 1 Aberdeen | |
| Sunday 8th November | |
| Clydesdale Bank Premier League | |
| Falkirk 3 - 3 Celtic | |
| Saturday 7th November | |
| Clydesdale Bank Premier League | |
| Hearts 0 - 0 Hibernian | |
| Hamilton 2 - 2 Motherwell | |
| Rangers 2 - 1 St Mirren | |
| Kilmarnock 0 - 2 Dundee Utd | |
| Aberdeen 2 - 1 St Johnstone | |
| Saturday 31st October | |
| Clydesdale Bank Premier League | |
| Motherwell 1 - 0 Hearts | |
| Hibernian 2 - 0 Aberdeen | |
| St Johnstone 3 - 1 Falkirk | |
| St Mirren 0 - 2 Hamilton | |
| Celtic 3 - 0 Kilmarnock | |
| Sunday 25th October | |
| Clydesdale Bank Premier League | |
| Hamilton 1 - 2 Celtic | |
| Saturday 24th October | |
| Clydesdale Bank Premier League | |
| Aberdeen 0 - 2 Dundee Utd | |
| Kilmarnock 2 - 1 St Johnstone | |
| Pos | Team | P | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rangers | 11 | 25 |
| 2 | Celtic | 11 | 24 |
| 3 | Hibernian | 12 | 22 |
| 4 | Dundee United | 10 | 19 |
| 5 | Motherwell | 12 | 19 |
| 6 | Aberdeen | 12 | 15 |
| 7 | St Mirren | 12 | 13 |
| 8 | St Johnstone | 12 | 12 |
| 9 | Hearts | 12 | 10 |
| 10 | Kilmarnock | 12 | 9 |
| 11 | Hamilton Academical | 12 | 9 |
| 12 | Falkirk | 12 | 8 |
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