Liam Kelly has joined Motherwell on loan from Queens Park Rangers.
The Steelmen have secured the services of the 24 year-old until the end of the season and he will be available to play against St Mirren this weekend.
Mark Warburton signed Kelly for QPR from Livingston for an undisclosed fee in June 2019. The goalkeeper cited his relationship with Warburton from his time at Rangers as a reason for joining the West London club but he has struggled for minutes this season.
Kelly has made just 22 appearances for the Rs, keeping three clean sheets, but he’s failed to make a single appearance this season with Warburton favouring former Dundee goalkeeper Seny Dieng in goals.
After leaving Rangers, Kelly excelled at Livingston and it’s understood that moving back to Scotland and playing regularly could re-ignite his international ambitions ahead of the Euros this summer.
Motherwell have suffered a goalkeeping crisis this season and Kelly will be the SIXTH different stopper feature in their squad this season.
After returning from a long-term absence, Trevor Carson has made the most appearances with 15 in all competitions but has suffered another injury.
Jordan Archer signed a short-term contract to cover Carson’s absence but failed to look convincing and the former Scotland internationalist has departed for English Championship side Middlesbrough.
Aaron Chapman was signed in the summer as ‘experienced cover and competition’ for Carson but was culpable for Hamilton’s opening two goals on Saturday and drew criticism from irate supporters.
Scott Fox hasn’t featured in competitive action since joining from Partick Thistle after suffering a cruciate injury whilst PJ Morrison has just been recalled from Falkirk after impressing on-loan.
Kelly is an experienced and determined goalkeeper who received international recognition for his outstanding form for Livi during the 18/19 season.
The former Rangers keeper received his first senior call up from Alex McLeish in March 2019 for the double header against Kazakhstan and San Marino.
Despite being newly promoted, only four clubs – Celtic, Rangers, Kilmarnock and Hibernian, conceded less goals than Livingston (44). Kelly conceded 40 goals in 36 league appearances and kept a remarkable 14 clean sheets. He kept a further three clean sheets in five League Cup appearances.
His performances are even more impressive because only St Johnstone’s Zander Clark faced more shots (160) than Kelly. He faced 156 shots and made 116 saves, second again to only Clark in the league.
Not only is Kelly an impressive shot-stopper, he’s extremely comfortable coming off his line and his distribution is superb for a goalkeeper. He left his line 84 times during the 18/19 – 20 more times than second placed Mark Gillespie – and Kenny Miller, his former manager and teammate, described him as ‘the perfect modern-day goalkeeper’ due to being ‘excellent with the ball at his feet.’
Although Kelly is comfortable in possession, he made 186 more long passes than any player in the league that season which was due in part to Livingston’s tactical set-up.
At Motherwell, Kelly will be reunited with Declan Gallagher and Ricki Lamie who formed an integral part of Livingston’s excellent defensive set-up under Gary Holt that season.
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