Stephen Robinson says Stephen O'Donnell's future is in his own hands, but Motherwell would love to keep him.
The defender signed a short-term contract that expires next month, and it was always with a view that both parties would revisit the deal.
Robinson says he would very much like the Scotland internationalist to stay at Fir Park for longer, and will sit down and talk it over after Saturday's derby clash at Hamilton.
Robinson, who confirmed that Callum Lang is returning to Wigan Athletic tomorrow, and said he's talking with Robbie Crawford about extending his loan from Livingston, said: "Stephen will decide in the coming weeks what he decides to do.
"He's contracted for a few more weeks and then it will be his decision after that.
"Ultimately this club should only have people here that want to be here - and I'm not saying Stephen isn't, by the way, so don't quote me, I'm not using Stephen as an example - but as a general rule we should only have people here who are desperate to be here, desperate to play here, this club deserves that amount of respect.
"If Stephen wants to be here we'll be delighted to have him.
"But if not we shake his hand and you move on.
"Robbie Crawford's loan deal is up, I think, in the middle of January so that's something we're actively speaking about at the moment.
"We need to get through Saturday and then we sit down and there are some big decisions to be made."
Goalkeeper Trevor Carson went off injured after pulling up with a knee injury, but Robinson is confident that it's not serious.
He said: "Hopefully not as bad as it appeared. Trevor's one of the proper boys who will fight and die for you, the last remaining boy from the cup final sides.
"He maybe played a little bit quicker than he should have done, but we're hoping he's not too bad and we think he'll be OK, he just nipped it a little bit.
"It was his knee but we don't think he's done the same thing in the initial examination. He's a tough boy and he's desperate to play for this club, and they are the people you need here."
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