Livingston boss David Martindale reckons Motherwell goalkeeper Liam Kelly could star for a club down south once again and he believes the shot-stopper would also be capable of playing for one of the Old Firm in the future.
Martindale worked with Kelly during a three-year spell with the Lions and watched as Queen's Park Rangers prised him away in 2019, so he knows first hand the qualities the 25-year-old has as the pair prepare to lock horns in the Premiership this afternoon at Fir Park.
And after a string of top performances for the Steelmen since signing a pemanent deal last summer, Kelly has the capabilities to make a step up, according to Martindale.
He told Daily Record : “I’ve no doubt he could get back down the road if he sees that as the next step in his career.
“Could he go on and play for Celtic or Rangers? I do believe he could.
“I’m glad to see Liam playing every week, I’m gutted it’s not at Livingston.
“We’ve kept in touch, he’s someone I consider a good friend. He’s a top, top keeper.
"He’s doing a fantastic job there. But I hope he has an absolute shocker against us. And I’ll tell him that when I see him!
“I spoke to him this time last year and he said he’d go anywhere for first team football - because he has a hunger to do that.
“But he’s up here now, playing for a top-four club so fair play to him. When he went down there [to QPR] originally I don’t think Liam could turn down the English Championship.
“I made him a fantastic offer here but it was life-changing money for him so QPR was 100 per cent the right move for him at the time.”
Kelly will be detemined to keep a clean sheet this afternoon against his old side as the Steelmen look for a fourth home win on the spin at Fir Park, following last week's 2-0 win over St Johnstone.
Graham Alexander's side are fourth in the Premiership and sit eight points clear of today's opponents. A win would end their year on a high ahead of the winter break.
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