Rangers player happy with loan spell impact at Ross County
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Stephen Kelly believes he has benefited greatly from his time at Ross County.
The Rangers midfielder, whose loan spell in Dingwall has now come to an end with the Staggies avoiding relegation, received his first taste of Premiership football this season.
He had previously spent time out on loan at Ayr United in the Championship, but playing regularly in the top flight was a step up for the 21-year-old.
It was a different challenge for him mentally as much as it was on the pitch.
Kelly had been used to challenging for trophies coming through Rangers youth system, and even with Ayr he was aiming for promotion through the play-offs.
So being thrown into a relegation battle could have been a shock to the system, but he was often a consistent performer in the middle of the park in his 29 appearances.
He believes that being in the middle of a fight for survival with the Staggies this last season will stand him in good stead going forward at Rangers or anywhere else, saying it has been a very valuable experience.
“It was obviously a tough start to the season, but I look back and I have definitely grown and matured, and benefited a lot,” he said.
“It has been a lot different for me, being in an environment down at the bottom of the league and being on the back foot in games.
“That’s totally different from what I’ve been used to my whole life really.
“You need to learn that side of the game no matter where you’re playing, so in that sense it has been very good for me.
“I think to have two full seasons out playing at my age, and getting regular games, it’s only going to benefit me.”
Kelly has not lacked experience to learn from at County. The likes of Iain Vigurs and Michael Gardyne showed how important they still are to the side with final- day goals at Motherwell.
Looking back over the campaign, Kelly thinks that it was when they got the balance of youth and experience right on the pitch that County really thrived.
“They’re good guys, and good characters as well in the changing room,” Kelly said.
“They’ve been great with me to be fair ever since I came in, they’ve helped me a lot – all the boys have, so I’m grateful for that.
“Maybe sometimes we’ve had a wee bit too much youth in the team, and then other times we’ve maybe not had the legs.
“When we’ve found the mix, that’s probably when we’ve been at our best.
“Some of the older players have been able to help the likes of myself and the other younger boys, so I think when we’ve got the balance right we’ve been very good.
“There have probably been a handful of performances for me personally that I can remember off the top of my head that I’ve been happy with.
“Obviously when there are changes, it’s sometimes hard to get that consistency, but getting this experience will be massive for me.”
