STEVE CLARKE has a decision to make for the first time in a long time as he prepares to give an untried and untested keeper his Scotland debut next week.
But Motherwell shot-stopper Liam Kelly insists there will be no sense that it is the end of an era at Hampden as he refused to write off an international return for first choice custodian Craig Gordon.
Clarke has a tough call to make between the sticks after naming Kelly, Zander Clark and new recruit Angus Gunn in the squad for the fixtures with Cyprus and Spain.
National hero Gordon continues to recover from a serious double leg break but has been tipped to return to the squad once he has completed his lengthy rehabilitation process.
"I understand your question but I wouldn’t be ruling Craig Gordon out yet," Kelly said when asked if it was a changing of the guard for Scotland with three uncapped keepers in the squad. "I’m not so sure it’s a changing of the guard.
"I think there’s an opportunity there because Craig has got injured. It’s an opportunity to show what you can do and then we’ll see what the manager does.
"I’m not sure about a changing of the guard. I think there’s still plenty of life left in Craig Gordon yet.
"It’s quite frightening how you see him move in training, to be honest. For his age he’s unbelievable.
"Him and Allan McGregor are probably the two best goalies I’ve worked with. That won’t change."
Kelly was handed his first call-up to the Scotland squad three years ago as he earned a place for the matches against Kazakhstan and San Marino.
🗣️Motherwell manager Stuart Kettlewell believes his goalkeeper Liam Kelly will rise to the challenge if selected as Scotland’s no1. #motherwell #Scotland #Euro2024 #football pic.twitter.com/6TcPFpIxcG
— PLZ Soccer (@PLZSoccer) March 16, 2023
He has yet to make his debut for his country as Gordon has made the place his own following several seasons where he had to battle it out with Allan McGregor and David Marshall.
And Kelly admits it would be a dream come true to finally pull on the blue jersey as Clarke's side prepare for two European Championship qualifiers on home soil.
Kelly said: "You get better every time you come back from a Scotland trip. It will be no different this time.
"There are brilliant players and a lot of the boys have been there for a long time. I’m just looking to kick on, see what happens during the week and take it as it comes."
"It’s everything isn’t it? That’s why you start playing football when you are a wee guy.
“You don’t ever see it as a reality when you are growing up – playing for Scotland.
"It would mean everything to me and my family if that opportunity ever came. But I’ll just take it day by day."
Kelly will join up with Clarke's squad on the back of a disappointing day between the sticks after Motherwell suffered a 4-2 defeat at home to Rangers on Saturday.
🧤 "None of them have got any caps, so all to play for..." Scotland manager Steve Clarke has yet to decide if goalkeeper Angus Gunn will start ahead of Zander Clark or Liam Kelly 🏴 pic.twitter.com/2aC6RKP72R
— Sky Sports Scotland (@ScotlandSky) March 14, 2023
A James Tavernier free-kick was followed by Fashion Sakala's header before Todd Cantwell and Malik Tillman found the target at Fir Park.
It was a first defeat in four for the Steelmen and Kelly is pleased with his form overall as he prepares to stake his claim for the national gloves.
Kelly said: "I think I’ve picked up a lot since the manager came in. We’d a couple of good results and personally I felt I played a lot better and we’ve been playing well collectively.
"There are things you can do better every week. Absolutely. I always look at that.
"But I’ve been happy with how I’ve been playing since the manager came in.
"I think everybody was short in confidence before he came in – a victim of the run that we were on. We won’t shy away from that.
"I’m always looking to get better. I’m always watching other goalies and what parts of their games I can steal. That will never change."
