Kevin van Veen can climb scoring charts but there's more to come, says Motherwell boss

Motherwell boss Stevie Hammell reckons Kevin van Veen can soar up the Premiership scoring charts this season – and says there’s more to come from the striker.

The Dutchman netted a hat-trick in Tuesday night’s 5-0 thumping of Ross County in Dingwall, taking his tally for the season to 10, one short of his entire total last term.

Hammell says there’s still aspects of the striker’s game that he can work on, but was happy also to see Callum Slattery and Joe Efford hit the net in the win.

He said: “He has been great. I think he has already nearly matched his total from last season and we’re just into the first week of October, so that’s great to see.

“I think there’s more to come from Kev. I think he would agree with that as well.

Hammell says van Veen can make his way up the scoring charts if he stays fit and on his current form (SNS Group)

“His goals were good, the variation of his goals. His penalty was excellent, and the second touch for his third goal is magnificent, but for me the second goal is his best goal – being in that right area for tap-ins, being available, connecting with the ball.

“If he can add those to his game on top of his natural finishing ability then yeah I think there’s still more to come from him.”

Hammell added: “I know he’s super-motivated, that he sets targets for himself, and he’s probably too critical of himself when he misses chances and stuff like that.

“I see what he’s like. His technical ability is undoubted, he’s got good competition now to push him, and if we need to get people round about him later in the game then we’ll do that as well.

Hammell was pleased to see others weighing in with goals in the Highlands too, so they're not relying on van Veen (SNS Group)

“Hopefully he continues what he’s doing, progressing, and keeps contributing those numbers for the team.

“I have high hopes for Kevin, but it’s also important, like we saw during the week, that other players are contributing with goals and assists, and putting numbers on the board as well, so we’re not over-reliant on just Kevin for the goals.

“I think we’re seeing that, we’re seeing goals and real goal threat from throughout the team.”

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