Livingston midfielder Stephen Kelly admits gaffer David Martindale put him at ease by telling the 22-year-old there was no pressure on him after making the move from Rangers, writes Angus McGregor.
Kelly, who returns to Ibrox for the first time since his summer switch from Glasgow, also insists there will be no emotions on the park as he looks to get one over his former club.
The ex-Scotland under-21 cap was only able to make three appearances in the first team at Rangers and believes coming from a big club meant there was added pressure to succeed during loan spells at Ayr United, Ross County and Salford City - something Martindale has been able to rectify.
He said: "I was there (Rangers) from the age of about six but I am a Livingston player and we want a result. It was a big part of my life and my whole career until recently was there but I have to forget my time at Rangers and focus on the game.
"In the past the clubs were expecting big things from me as I was on loan from Rangers. You are also trying to impress people at your parent club as well as trying to stay in the team. The gaffer said to me when I came in not to put pressure on myself and to work my way in.
"I do put pressure on myself, I always have, but for the gaffer to say I don’t have pressure on me straight away helped me relax.”
This weekend’s game also sees the introduction VAR of to the Scottish Premiership. There have been several incidents this season in which the technology would have been handy, with Kelly stating it will help the game, even if it takes time.
“I think it will benefit the game," he said. "Most weekends a lot of managers have decisions they aren’t happy with. It’s not easy to make the right decision all the time and VAR will help. It’s something different to the game and it might take a while to get used to.”
The technology has had a mixed tenure so far, with the English Premier League showcasing the teething problems on a global scale, although it has also been shown to work efficiently in other competitions.
Kelly is of the mind, though, that it will be a benefit, even helping players in heated moments, adding: "It might calm players down as we will know the outcome of the decisions in the end”.
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