It’s been well publicised that Rangers have had no representatives in the last two Scotland squads.
Neither Alex McLeish or Steve Clarke saw fit to include any Gers, as the nation bids to qualify for Euro 2020.
However, there was one former Ger who made it into both manager’s squads.
Liam Kelly.
The 23-year-old left Rangers permanently in June 2018 without making a senior league appearance. Since then, though, he’s gone from strength to strength.
He established himself as no.1 at newly promoted Livingston, making 36 league appearances for the SPL newcomers. What’s more, he registered as many clean sheets as Allan McGregor, with 14.
Those displays earned him a big move to QPR last week, where he has signed a four-year contract [BBC Sport].
However, he’s now keen to press on and to establish himself at both club and international level.
“I want to be Scotland’s No 1, but I know how hard it will be after seeing first-hand how good the other keepers in the last few squads were,” said Kelly, as quoted by the Scottish Sun.
“David Marshall, Scott Bain, and Jon McLaughlin are top notch and there are other keepers banging on the door, too.
“My first focus is to cement my place in the QPR team and do really well for them. If the Scotland manager takes notice of that and includes me in his squads in the future, then I would be delighted.”
Verdict
Kelly has done remarkably well after leaving Ibrox.
It would have been easy for him to drift away after not making the grade at Rangers. Instead, as a member of the Scotland squad, he’s found himself in a position no other Ger is in right now.
That’s not to say he’d be no.1 had he stayed at Ibrox. Allan McGregor is a top quality operator and the only reason the national team jersey is up for grabs is that he willingly vacated it.
Kelly is doing well for himself, though and this coming season will be a big test of his ability.
Who knows, a few years down the line when Greegsy has hung up his gloves, he might get a second chance with the Gers.
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