Connor Ripley will happily allow Motherwell manager Mark McGhee to "whip him into shape" as he prepares to build on his initial loan spell at Fir Park.

Ripley has agreed to extend his stay from Middlesbrough until the end of the season and believes he can make more progress after impressing during Motherwell's run of three consecutive wins ahead of Saturday's visit of Hamilton.

McGhee said after Wednesday night's victory over St Johnstone that he had permission from Boro to whip the goalkeeper into shape and Ripley is pleased he has someone driving him forward.

"The manager is brilliant, he has helped this club a lot," the 22-year-old said.

"I've heard he has been trying to whip me into shape and I don't mind. If he wants me to get whipped into shape I will do it myself.

"I can't thank the manager enough, he is doing a lot for me, hopefully keeping me here and I will just go on from there.

"I feel good, I feel happy here. I've made good mates and the gaffer seems to like me so I can't really complain.

"Who doesn't want to play at Celtic Park and beat them? When we were 1-0 down as well. That was the best moment in my career, it was up there with when I went away with England for the first time."

Ripley feels the experience of players such as Stephen McManus, Keith Lasley, Steven Hammell and fellow goalkeeper Craig Samson has helped develop his game.

"I think I have progressed as a keeper," Ripley said. "I used to be a very angry keeper. Now I have calmed down, I can read the game a lot better.

"My talking and communication has advanced. It's all down to the experience of Hammell, Lasley and Mick (McManus). You hear what they are saying and you learn from it.

"I've learned a lot from them, especially Sammy. Even though he's not playing, when you watch him train and how he talks and helps you, it's really good."

Scotland squad player Samson arrived in September and Ripley immediately had to look over his shoulder as he fought to keep his place.

"I still am," he said. "We've got an international goalkeeper who is second choice behind me. It's very good for the club and it's very good for the manager as well, giving him a headache.

"Sammy is training really well and I have to train just as well. I have the jersey and I don't want to lose it so I need to play out of my skin."

Motherwell moved from 10th to seventh in the Ladbrokes Premiership in midweek and will be looking to build on their unbeaten December when they host their Lanarkshire rivals.

"I said before that we needed that snowball effect and it's happened," Ripley said. "We needed momentum and we needed wins. It's great for the team."