Motherwell defender Brian McLean will miss most of next season after tests confirmed he has suffered another second cruciate ligament injury.McLean was carried off with a knee problem following a strong challenge by CFR Cluj defender Diego Ruiz during Motherwell's 2-1 friendly defeat by the Romanian champions on Thursday.

Scans have confirmed the worst fears for the 23-year-old.

"The defender has partially ruptured his cruciate ligament and torn his medial ligament," read a statement on the club's website.

"He also has a small fracture on the outside of his knee."

The former Rangers defender was out for eight months after damaging his cruciate ligament in September 2006.

He initially struggled to impress new manager Mark McGhee following his return to fitness but played the final eight games of last season as Well sealed a UEFA Cup place.

But his challenge for a first-team place next season has been cruelly ended and Motherwell are now likely to step up efforts to arrange a loan deal for Celtic defender John Kennedy, who has joined them at their Austrian training camp.

The Motherwell players and staff were angered by the attitude of the Romanians, who took off Argentinian defender Ruiz but only after he appeared to elbow Mark Reynolds.

McGhee said after the match: "I don't know if there was intent, only the player himself would know that. He definitely went in to protect himself that is for sure.

"His attitude to it all was a little disappointing but that same attitude pervaded from the bench - there was a little bit of arrogance about them that really wasn't very nice and I didn't enjoy it.

"There was no apology either which again was disappointing.

"It is terrible luck for the guy. He has been working hard to try to get himself into the frame, which he did at the end of last season when he got back into our eye line, and he was very much in contention."

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