Liam Kelly returned to Rangers earlier in the current transfer window, and now has explained in depth what steered him back to the club.

Having climbed the ranks at the club's youth academy, the goalkeeper left for Livingston in 2018 on a permanent basis, before spending two years at English Championship side, Queens Park Rangers, and three years back in Scotland at Motherwell.

During the latter stretch, Kelly worked his way to become captain at Fir Park – therefore giving all of this up to play as first-choice stopper Jack Butland's understudy may make less sense at face value.

For Kelly, however, the decision was as straightforward as they come.

He told the Rangers Youth Development Company: "I am over the moon to be back. It was a surprise but it was made clear to me that the club wanted me to come back so I am delighted.

"I was captain and playing every week with Motherwell and I know it will be tough to do that here but I am excited to return.

"I have played over 300 professional games now and although Jack will get the nod I am just one person away from playing in big European ties and Old Firm games and it was just an opportunity I couldn’t say no to.

"Anyone with a footballing brain can understand that, I can see how close I am to being the goalkeeper for Rangers."

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Kelly added: "If Jack wakes up on a matchday and feels unwell I will be in and I’ve worked tirelessly my whole life to give myself the opportunity to try and be in the Rangers first team.

So when the chance came around again I wasn’t going to say no. I had a year on my contract when I left Rangers and it was a transition period before Steven Gerrard became the manager.

"I spoke to the senior goalkeepers and Colin Stewart, who was also here at the time, and we all agreed I was ready to go and play.

“I am glad I did leave to get games and I had a really successful season at Livingston. I went to QPR after that then I was back up to Motherwell so I had a lot of different experiences.

"I’ve also been in the Scotland squad for over 3 and a half years and I’m just back from Euro 2024."

Kelly's full interview with the RYDC can be read here.