New Motherwell boss Mark McGhee says the quality of his squad has surprised him.

"To be honest, I wasn't quite prepared for the number of good players we seem to have at the club," said McGhee.

"They are a young squad and their enthusiasm is terrific. In a way, it's a little confusing. I've seen so many good things in our pre-season preparations that I wonder at times if I'm deluding myself. But I've been in the game long enough to know the difference between rehearsals and the real thing.

"I won't really be sure of the standard of squad I have until I see them in competitive action. Although I've been impressed by what I've seen, nothing that's gone before really counts until you get started in earnest."

McGhee is confident that Ross McCormack, the former Rangers striker, will prove a better prospect than Scott McDonald, who quit Fir Park for Celtic at the end of last season.

"I haven't seen much of Scott McDonald, but he must be a very good player if he's better than McCormack," he said.

"Ross suffered from a virus for much of last year, but he's back to full health and fitness now. He has lost weight and he looks a proper player, better than most I have seen in the Championship in England. I firmly believe he'll show this season how good he is."