Glasgow Rangers talent Stephen Kelly was called into the first team earlier this summer.
Glasgow Rangers youngster Stephen Kelly is on the cusp of the first team after training with Steven Gerrard’s side in recent weeks.
This week he dropped back into Rangers under-19s and coach Graeme Murty says he can tell an immediate difference.
Murty says there are element of Kelly’s game which he believes are already of a first team standard, a great sign for Rangers.
Kelly impressed in action for the under-19s as they beat Hamburg 5-0 this week.
Murty told Rangers’ official website: “You can see he has that touch, that subtlety and he can play at a first-team pace with the ball – he deals with the ball really well and some of his link-up play, particularly for Cameron Palmer’s goal was great as it encapsulates the kind of build-up play we want to do and the areas we want to get into.
“We created a wonderful goal from that. We are happy with lots of different players, not just Stevie, and I think they are all benefiting from training with the first team.”
Kelly is a central midfielder and so breaking into the first team will not be straightforward given the heavy competition for places.
Rangers showed their commitment to him last month, signing him up to a three-year deal.
Murty’s praise shows Rangers are continuing to be impressed with Kelly’s development, and that they are continuing to test him in the academy despite his involvement in and around Steven Gerrard’s squad.
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