Rangers loanee Stephen Kelly made his first Premiership start for Ross County on Saturday in a 2-1 defeat to Dundee United at Tannadice.
Kelly is highly rated at Ibrox and was sent out on loan to prove himself in the top-flight following an impressive 2019/20 campaign with Championship side Ayr United.
So far, he’s found game time relatively hard to come by.
Prior to Saturday afternoon, the 20-year-old had featured off the bench in seven of the Staggies’ 12 league fixtures but hadn’t played more than half an hour in any.
Things haven’t been going well for the Highlands club in recent weeks, though, so Stuart Kettlewell decided to shake things up and hand the Scotland U21 international an opportunity from the start against the Terrors.
Kelly played the full 90 minutes in midfield but he couldn’t prevent County from falling to a fourth defeat in their last five league matches.
Former Rangers striker Nicky Clark put the hosts ahead from the penalty spot in the 19th minute following a handball from Iain Vigurs.
Then, seven minutes into the second half, the 29-year-old helped in a Mark Reynolds shot to provide his team with breathing space.
The visitors rallied in the closing stages with Oli Shaw pulling one back in the 81st minute, but they couldn’t manage an equaliser, with Clark’s brace earning United all three points.
Kettlewell’s miserable run continues but Kelly will still be hoping he did enough to earn a run in the team, with a home fixture against Livingston next up on Friday night.
