‘Impressing all of us’: Ross Wilson expects big things from Rangers prodigy who’s a lifelong Bear

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Glasgow Rangers have announced that Ibrox academy gem Stephen Kelly has agreed a contract extension which commits him to the Light Blues until the summer of 2023.

The 20-year-old is one of the brightest youngsters to come through the Rangers academy in recent years, and has already made his debut for the club.

Kelly came on against Ayr United in a League Cup clash back in September 2018 at Ibrox, with the Light Blues running out 4-0 winners.

Last term, he enjoyed a successful season on loan with the team he featured against on his Gers debut.

Kelly scored six goals in 33 appearances to help the Honest Men finish in the Championship playoff places when the season was abruptly called in wake of current events.

As well as penning a new deal at Rangers, he will continue his development away from Ibrox and with Scottish Premiership side Ross County, with Gers retaining a January break clause.

Sporting director Ross Wilson told the club’s official website: “Stevie is developing really well and impressing all of us with his progress.

“He had a really good experience at Ayr United and we thank Ian McCall and Mark Kerr for the confidence shown in him and for aiding his development at Somerset Park.

“Stevie repaid that faith as Ayr’s young player of the season. In turn we have rewarded him with this new contact which is part of what we will do going forward at Rangers, reward young players when they earn it.

“It was part of our development plan for him to now test himself at Premiership level and Steven Gerrard has made clear to Stevie that we expect him to make a strong impact in the league at Ross County.”

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Kelly is a talented young midfielder with plenty of potential, as shown by the long-term contract handed to him by Rangers, not to mention the January break clause which suggests they could call the lifelong Gers fan back and put him in Steven Gerrard’s squad if he excels at Dingwall.

After impressing at youth and reserve level for Rangers and in the Championship with Ayr, the Premiership beckons for Kelly, and Gerrard has, in Wilson’s words, “made clear to Stevie that we expect him to make a strong impact” at Ross County – and then who knows?