Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
The National (Scotland)
The National (Scotland)
Sport
Mark Walker

Stephen Kelly admits he's in the dark about his Rangers future

Stephen Kelly admits he's in the dark about his Rangers future

RANGERS midfielder Stephen Kelly admits he's in the dark about his Ibrox future as he prepares to enter his last year under contract at Giovanni van Bronckhorst's side.

The 22-year-old cracked in an outstanding free kick to help Scotland Under 21s gain a point in their final Euro 2023 group game in Denmark.

It was Kelly's tenth and last cap for Scot Gemmill's side as they ended the group with respectable draws in Belgium and Denmark.

Kelly spent the second half of last season on loan at English League Two outfit Salford City and impressed during his spell at the club.

He played for Rangers under Steven Gerrard at the start of the season and came on against Alashkert at the start of their run to the Europa League Final, before making 21 appearances at Salford, who are owned by Manchester United legends including Gary Neville, Paul Scholes and David Beckham.

He now faces an uncertain future when he returns to pre-season training at Rangers and will seek talks with van Bronckhorst about whether he is in his plans for the new campaign.

He said: "I've got another year ar Rangers. I will report back for pre-season and see what is happening.

"I've not heard anything about what will happen with me so I will return and take it from there.

"I'm 22 now so I am leaving the young stage of being a footballer behind. So obviously, the next 12 months will be massive for me.

"Again, I've had no indication about what is happening at Rangers. I have to go back to Rangers for pre-season and take it from there.

"I went to Salford City in January. It was a tough league, but I really enjoyed it.

"I thought that if I could go down to League Two in England, which is renowned as a very physical league and if I could prove myself at that level, it's only going to help me improve and help my game.

"Gary Neville and Paul Scholes were about the place quite often but I never had any direct dealings with them."

Kelly's free kick in Vejle was an incredible strike as he struck his set piece into the very top corner off the underside of the bar from 25 yards. And he was delighted to bow out of the youth international stage on a high as the young Scots dug in to get a draw.

He said: "I fancied it as soon as I saw it was given. I just hit it well and it went in right off the bar.

"I practice now and again, but sometimes when you don't practice that's when you hit the better ones!

"I couldn't have hit it any better to be honest.

"I think in my experience of playing for the Scotland youth games, it's probably one of the most one-sided games I have played in.

"But I think for the application we showed and the shape and effort we showed, it was all credit to the players out there.

"It's my last ever game for the Under 21s. I have been heavily involved in the campaign this time so I have really enjoyed it.

"I've been in most of the Scotland youth squads over the years growing up and I have had the last two campaigns with the Under 21s so it has been a great experience for me."

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.