MOTHERWELL manager Stephen Robinson is “well down the line” in his attempts to replace Louis Moult.

And Robinson feels the example of the Ladbrokes Premiership top goalscorer can encourage his targets to move to Fir Park.

The striker has become the latest Englishman to win a big move back south after Motherwell accepted an offer of about £500,000 from Preston for him to join them on January 1.

The former Wrexham player has scored 50 goals for the club after moving for £50,000 in the summer of 2015 but Robinson has limited funds to replace him.

“We’ll have to replace him on a free transfer I would imagine,” said Robinson ahead of today’s trip to Kilmarnock. “I have spent 10 grand on the whole squad and that was Trevor Carson, so I can’t imagine we will be buying anyone for huge money.”

Robinson added: “Louis Moult, Ben Heneghan and Marvin Johnson are brilliant examples of what we do and the model we have. We bring them up for free transfers, give them game time and put them in a shop window and they better themselves, both financially and at a really good level.

“Scottish football unfortunately isn’t everyone’s first choice. But we’ve got targets, we are actively speaking to people.”