JIM STEWART spoke and Liam Kelly listened. The message was stark, the prospect of the dream becoming a nightmare a very real and daunting one.

Kelly’s career had barely begun, but he knew he was already at a crossroads as his mentor urged him to make the changes required to give him a shot at the big time.

Twelve months on, he has risen through the Rangers ranks and is now second in line to the Ibrox gloves rather than several places down the Light Blue order of merit.

The 19-year-old may have yet to make his first team breakthrough under Mark Warburton as he has spent the campaign so far as back-up to summer signing Wes Foderingham.

But Kelly is pleased to be where he is and have achieved what he has thus far, especially when he considers where he has come from.

“Jim is the national goalkeeper coach so you can’t get any better than him,” he told SportTimes.

“About a year ago, he sat me down and said that I had to do something with myself because I wasn’t going anywhere, I wasn’t in good shape.

“He spoke to me and said I had to change or I wasn’t going to make it. He had to be harsh and honest and that has helped me.

“I have lost a lot of weight, I have got quicker, and that conversation really helped me. It is one of the reasons why I am on the bench and why the gaffer feels he doesn’t need to bring in another goalie.

“I knew myself at the time, I wasn’t saving much, I wasn’t having an impact.

“I was coming in here and being casual and just accepting it. That will never be allowed under the manager.

“The fact I got myself into shape before he came in has certainly helped me since he came in. That conversation with Jim has definitely helped me.”

Kelly has had one of the best seats in the house from his spot on the Gers bench as Warburton’s side have made a stunning start to the season.

The Light Blues have won eight out of eight as they have taken top spot in the Championship and progressed in both the League Cup and Petrofac Training Cup.

It has been a dream introduction to life at Ibrox for Warburton, and Kelly is delighted at the progress that has been made in such a short timeframe.

“It is great to see the boys enjoying themselves on the pitch, going home happy and sending the fans home happy, which is the main objective,” he said.

“Thankfully we have done that so far but we know we haven’t achieved anything yet, we have only had a great start.

“We need to keep that going. We can’t be complacent and we need to kick-on for the rest of the season.

“The new manager coming in has certainly had a positive effect on the place. It has galvanised the whole place.

“The way he does things and the demands he places on his players and staff, and himself, are high.

“The players realise what it means to be a Rangers player and we never take it for granted.

“Every week, we need to wear the shirt and wear it well. If we can send the fans home happy then we have done our job.”

The big picture for Rangers and Kelly may be pleasing, but the keeper doesn’t have to think back long to be reminded of a time when the outlook was somewhat bleaker.

As the Gers toiled on the park, he found himself well down the pecking order as Steve Simonsen and then Lee Robinson provided the competition and backup for first choice Cammy Bell.

Kelly said: “Last year, I found myself fourth or fifth in the order and you don’t see yourself going anywhere.

“I was speaking to Wes the other day and he was saying how it was great I am on the bench for Rangers at 19-years-old. I am looking long term but I am happy just now.

“It has been frustrating but I had a great relationship with Steve, he is a great professional and he helped me so much, and Lee as well.

“It was frustrating when I didn’t get a chance to show what I could do but the gaffer came in and I had a few good training sessions and he was happy to have me as number two.

“I think I suit the way he wants to play. It is a good place to be just now and I am really enjoying it.”

Kelly may be playing second fiddle to Foderingham at present but he is still a key part of Rangers’ second string as he turns out for Ian Durrant’s Under-20 side.

The Scotland youth international will have a battle on his hands when Bell is fit and available for selection again but could ultimately head for the exit door in search of first team football.

Kelly said: “I think the plan was for me to go out on loan but when the gaffer came in Cammy was injured and he was happy for me to be number two. It was good for me, a good confidence boost.

“If Cammy comes back and I am not involved then I will be looking to go out on loan.

“But, as it stands, Cammy is not back and I am delighted to be part of something that is going really well.”

* The Rangers Youth Development Company will donate £10 to MND Scotland for every brick sold on the Fernando Ricksen panel at Ibrox.

The former Rangers captain is fighting bravely against motor neurone disease and fans can support MND Scotland and Rangers Football Club’s youth department by purchasing bricks on Fernando’s panel at the Stadium.

For full details on Stadium Bricks call 0141 427 4914.

The Rangers Youth Development Company, who confirmed Light Blues legend John Greig had joined their board last week, directs profits to Rangers Football Club’s youth programme and more than £5.5 million has been provided in the last decade.

Rangers fans can continue to support the Rangers Youth Development Company in a variety of ways – full details on Rangers Lotto, Rising Stars, Scratchcards and other initiatives can be found at www.rangerslotto.co.uk.