SOMETIMES, to take a step forward, you must first take a step back. Not that Liam Kelly necessarily believes the leap from being third choice at Rangers to Livingston’s No 1 in the summer wasn’t a progressive step in his career, but he is clear-minded about what had to be done if he was ever going to realise the starry-eyed dreams of his youth.

It is never easy for a young player to walk away from a big club, particularly after years of toil and sacrifice with the aim of being a regular for the first team in front of crowds of 50,000, but while in the short-term Kelly’s priorities may have shifted somewhat, the long-term focus remains the same.

At 22, he knew that in order to one day be the Rangers goalkeeper, or to turn out for any major club, he first had to leave Rangers to prove himself. He is relishing the opportunity to do just that, with this afternoon’s home game against his former employers the perfect stage for him to showcase his talents.

“This is exactly why I decided to move on and ask to leave Rangers in the summer, to get these opportunities to play against teams as big as Rangers,” Kelly said.

“It was very difficult, but I knew that it was something I had to do for my own benefit.

“If I ever wanted to play for a club like Rangers in the future, then I had to leave Rangers, if that makes sense. I had to get out and prove my worth, show what I can do and find my level.

“Of course, it was a hard decision, but there wasn't a manager in place when I left and it was a decision I wanted to take for my career. The club allowed it to happen and I’m thankful they did.

“The move has benefited me and I’m reaping the rewards of getting to play against top players in the top flight. I’m really happy with how it is working out, but I know where I want to be and I know the ambition I’ve got.

“Right now, I’m just trying my best for Livingston, but there are a few players here and the staff too who could be doing well for really big clubs. For now, though, we want to take Livingston as high as we can go.”

How high that is, is anyone’s guess, but last season’s play-off winners have certainly surpassed expectations thus far. The aim remains to stay in the division, but quietly, you get the feeling Kelly and his colleagues are relishing proving their doubters wrong as they sit comfortably in the top half.

Indeed, they are level on points with the visitors going into this afternoon's game, while receiving little of the fanfare that has greeted the Ibrox resurgence under Steven Gerrard.

“I’m pleased for all my friends there,” said Kelly. “A lot of staff members have been through a lot of hard times there, so I’m absolutely delighted for them. The only thing I’m hoping is that they’re not delighted after Sunday and we manage to get something from the game.

“We know that in most games this season people will be writing us off and nobody will be giving us a chance, but we know what we are capable of.”

The friends Kelly will be looking to bring down a peg or two include returning goalkeeper Allan McGregor, who remarkably, was the first-team keeper at Ibrox when Kelly joined the club at the age of 10.

“I never knew Allan McGregor was coming in before I left, but you can see the quality he has,” he said. “I think he’s been the stand-out keeper in Scotland this year, and he has to be with the quality that Wes Foderingham has as well. He’s a top, top goalkeeper, but Allan has been the main man in the country this season.

“He’s been unbelievable for Rangers, and whoever is in goals against us we know we are in for a tough, tough task trying to get the ball past them.

“I think everyone knew that when Allan was coming back he was going to be a top signing, and that’s exactly what he has been. That experience and the mentality he’s got shows every time he plays for Rangers.

“He was the first-team goalkeeper when I first came into Rangers full time. He was the main man then and he’s the main man now all this time later. I managed to train with him for a year under Jim Stewart, and I saw the quality he had up close. I know what he’s all about and I know the quality he has.

“Going in and training with Allan was the dream scenario, it was the best thing you could hope for as a young goalkeeper. He was a top professional who would always look after the young boys, and that’s the same with Wes as well.

“The both of them are really good people first and foremost, and that’s why they get the benefits and the rewards on the pitch.”

One thing Kelly isn’t looking forward to reacquainting himself with though is the task of trying to keep out James Tavernier’s free-kicks. It was a challenge that proved beyond St Johnstone goalkeeper Zander Clark last weekend, with the Rangers captain firing an unstoppable curling shot past him to open the scoring.

Kelly has faced more than his fair share of Tavernier set-pieces over the years.

“I spoke to James last Sunday,” he said. “I was the training goalkeeper last year, so I was out on the pitch with him doing shooting, free-kicks and penalties, so it will be interesting if those situations arise.

“We will have a good bit of banter leading up to the game and then the serious heads will go on for the match.

“Some of them you can’t do anything about because James has that ability. I’ll be warning the lads not to give away any silly free-kicks around the box because he has the quality to punish you as we saw last weekend.”