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Johnson’s departure for Oxford United made ’Well around £700,000, with a healthy sell-on clause agreed so that the Steelmen will be recompensed handsomely if Johnson makes a subsequent big money move.

With Johnson gone, arguably the Fir Park club’s most sellable current asset is 20-year-old midfielder Chris Cadden, an ever present in Motherwell’s 12 league games so far this season.

So it came as a great boost to everyone around the club when the Scotland under-21 ace recently penned a one-year contract extension through to summer 2019.

Motherwell manager Mark McGhee said: “We want to have as long a shot as possible at developing Cadds, so that when he does eventually leave here he leaves for the right money.

“Cadds’ new deal was about getting him on a level of renumeration which is the same as the rest of the first team regulars.

“He is no longer the young lad here, he is making a major contribution to the team.”

Cadden’s energetic displays on the right flank have often seen experienced winger Lionel Ainsworth relegated to the bench in this campaign.

McGhee admits it is not easy to accommodate both Cadden and Ainsworth – who to be fair has started the last two games – in his regular starting line-up.

The ’Well gaffer added: “It is a problem because they would both prefer to play on the right.

“Lionel has started to play more on the left before cutting inside.

“It would be better if Lionel was an out and out left sided player but we need to make the best of it.”

Meanwhile, McGhee said he was satisfied with the Well Society’s recent takeover of the club, making Motherwell the first 100 per cent fan owned team in Scotland’s top flight.

“It is a lower benchmark in terms of finance,” McGhee said.

“But at least it brings a bit of stability.”