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Daily Record
Sport
Mark Walker

Stephen Kelly reveals Rangers future silence as he admits 'I haven't heard a thing'

Rangers midfielder Stephen Kelly admits he faces an uncertain future at Ibrox as he enters the final year of his contract.

The 22-year-old fired home 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 10th and last cap for Scot Gemmill’ s side as they ended the group with respectable draws in Belgium and Denmark.

The classy midfielder spent the second half of last season on loan at English League Two outfit Salford City and impressed during his spell down south.

He played for Rangers last season under Steven Gerrard and came on against Alashkert at the start of their run to the Europa League Final.

Kelly joined Salford on loan in January, making 21 appearances at City, who are owned by Manchester United legends including Gary Neville and Paul Scholes.

But he now faces an uncertain future when he returns to pre-season training at Rangers and will seek talks with Gio van Bronckhorst to map out his future.

Kelly said: “I’ve got another year at Rangers. I will report back for pre-season and see what is happening.

“I’ve not heard a thing 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 very 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 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 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 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.

“It’s my last ever game for the Under-21s. I have been heavily involved in the campaign so I have really enjoyed it.

“I’ve been in most of the Scotland youth squads and I have had the last two campaigns with the Under-21s so it has been a great experience for me.”

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