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Paul Thomson

Motherwell star will work hard in first Scotland cap bid as he targets Turkey friendly chance

Motherwell goalkeeper Liam Kelly is off to Turkey with the Scotland squad this week but admits he's got no incline if the friendly will deliver his first senior cap.

The Steelmen's captain has been included in numerous camps of late, but is yet to pick up that elusive maiden appearance in Dark Blue for the senior side, having represented his country at U16-21 level.

Regular No.1 and Hearts star Craig Gordon and young Rangers shot-stopper Robby McCrorie are also in the squad, and Kelly admits he's none the wiser as to whether this will be the moment he has been waiting for.

Asked if boss Steve Clarke had said he will get game time in Diyarbakir on Wednesday night, Kelly said: “Nothing at all. That’s just how it is.

"You go away and train and the manager picks the team he wants. If you’re in it, great. If not, then you need to work even harder to get in it. You can only do that by playing well for your club.

“It would be nice to get that first cap. It’s the hardest one that every single person in the country wants, not just every single football player.

“It’s a great position to be in and I am very grateful for being selected. I’ll do my best to push the goalies who are there.

“You try and take stuff away. You try and steal parts of his [Gordon] game, steal parts of Robby’s game.

Craig Gordon has been displace, even in friendly matches (SNS Group)

“You look at the way the boys train who play at such a high level in the Premier League. I love going away and I am looking forward to it.

"I don’t focus on anything I can’t control and the manager will make the decision.

“I’ll just train as best I can."

Kelly goes into the international trip off the back of helping Motherwell claim a 1-1 draw at St Johnstone on Saturday in their final Premiership match before the World Cup break.

The Steelmen had to come from behind as Blair Spittal's free-kick on the stroke of half-time cancelled out Drey Wright's opener for Saints.

It leaves 'Well ninth in the table but within reach of third spot, with Aberdeen eighth points ahead in that position.

And Kelly says firing their way up the standings will be the focus for Steven Hammell's charges when they return to action on December 17 at home to St Mirren.

He said: “It’s been a really close season, with a lot of tight games. A lot of teams are really similar to each other and that reflects on how tight the league is. But it’s really exciting and we’re right in amongst it.

“We’re in the middle of the group and there’s a great opportunity for us to get back in and attack it and make our way up the pack.

“I really don’t see a lot changing throughout the course of the season. It will be close throughout the year.

“There are games where teams win and you don’t expect them to - it will be like that throughout the season.

“There isn’t much difference between the teams. From third to 12th, no one can pick how it will look. We want to pick up a run of victories when we get back and limit the defeats.

“We’re still positive. The manager came in at the start of the season, and we’re in a different situation from many of the other teams. We’re aware of how we want to progress.

“All of the boys are really happy with how we’re doing."

On picking up a point in Perth, he added: "We understand a lot of teams are going to come here and lose.

"Looking at it that way, it’s probably a point gained.

"But there were opportunities there for us to score, so there is that frustration."

Follow Lanarkshire Live Sport on Twitter via @LanLiveSport, like us on Facebook or find us on Instagram for the latest sports news, pictures and video.

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