Jordan Campbell of The Athletic has provided a big update on the future of Rangers midfielder Stephen Kelly as the transfer deadline nears.
Kelly – who is contracted until the summer of 2023 – has spent the past two campaigns out on loan at Ayr United and Ross County respectively.
However, he played a significant role in pre-season before making competitive appearances against Dunfermline and Alashkert, while he’s also made a number of other matchday squads over the early part of the 2021/22 season.
In July, skipper James Tavernier raved about the 21-year-old and impressed fans urged the club not to send him out on loan again amid speculation.
With just hours remaining in the transfer window, Kelly remains at Ibrox and according to Campbell, there won’t be any last-minute exit.
“Understand Stephen Kelly is to remain part of the Rangers first-team squad this season,” he tweeted on Monday. “21yo midfielder did well in pre-season and is liked by the coaching staff. Faces a tough task to break in with players in front and others like Jack returning but will be around to impress.”
“One of the squad players people had been asking whether he would go out on loan again, but think the last week has shown how fragile every team is with COVID so prevalent, no matter how big the squad is.”
Kelly to remain with Rangers?
Plenty of supporters will be pleased by this update, given the promise that Kelly has shown over the past few months.
As Campbell suggests, it will be difficult for the Scotland youth international to get any kind of regular playing time over the course of the season, as there isn’t a shortage of options in midfield.
That isn’t ideal but the lack of minutes may be offset to an extent by the benefits of training regularly with established internationals and if injury hits the likes of Steven Davis and Glen Kamara at some point during the campaign, the Academy graduate could be handed chances to prove he has what it takes to thrive at Ibrox.
Meanwhile, fans of a rival Premiership club are delighted with the acquisition of a former Rangers player.
