When you have two different teams, each playing 45 minutes, in a friendly fixture one week into pre-season it’s never going to be the most fluent of performances and yet there was still one player who Steven Gerrard will no doubt have noticed in the 1-0 win over Partick Thistle.
The first-half featured a mix of academy graduates and players who have returned from loan which makes Stephen Kelly‘s inclusion into the star-studded side that appeared for the second-half even more telling.
The Scotland youth cap has impressed during his two loan spells at Ayr United and Ross County respectively, something that assistant manager Gary McAllister felt was deserving of a promotion, as reported by The Athletic:
“The second half, we played more senior players on the pitch and you could see the composure and the quality.
“Looking at Steven Davis again, outstanding, and I thought he was the pick of the game tonight. Stephen Kelly did fantastically well but overall, we are delighted for all the players and they are looking pretty sharp.
“Stephen has progressed really well. He has had a couple of good loans and went out and impressed with every team that he has gone to. I think he warranted that, in amongst some senior players and top international footballers. He was very competent.”
There has been a clamour to add more bodies into the midfield but with Nnamdi Ofoborh already signed, John Lundstram arriving from Sheffield United and Kelly returning to Auchenhowie, there is more than enough depth.
As McAllister said, Kelly deserved his chance, and he took it with both hands, how much time he plays over the next few fixtures will give a real indication as to what his role will be this season but, judging by his first 45 minutes, it shouldn’t be anywhere other than in and around the first team.