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Kilmarnock spell can remind ex-Dons ace Calvin Ramsay how good he is, says Derek McInnes

Calvin Ramsay has joined Kilmarnock on loan for the rest of the season
-Credit:SNS Group


Derek McInnes is hoping his familiarity with Calvin Ramsay can help the on-loan Liverpool right-back get his career back on track at Kilmarnock.

The 21-year-old – who won a Scotland cap in November 2022 – joined the Ayrshire club this week until the end of the season after unfulfilling loan stints at Preston, Bolton and Wigan since he moved to Anfield from Aberdeen two-and-a-half years ago.

McInnes was the Dons’ manager when Ramsay was emerging as “a talented prospect” at Pittodrie and is confident he can remind himself how good a player he is during his time at Rugby Park.

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“We had him training with us at first-team level as soon as he came full-time,” said the Killie boss. “He was one that we all thought had a big reach.

“Obviously, after I left Aberdeen, he went on to get a really strong move to Liverpool. It’s not gone as well as he would have expected.

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“I think if you look at it forensically, there’s a lot of different reasons for that. What we feel and what Liverpool feel at this moment in time is that he needs to be working with somebody he knows.

“I think they want to get back to basics and just try to get a really successful loan. If you strip it back, what we’re getting is a really attacking, raiding right-back with a lot of pace, a lot of quality.

“Hopefully, we can find that boy that we know is in there. What Calvin gets from it is, hopefully, going back to Liverpool in the summer on the back of playing a lot of games in the Premiership having enjoyed the loan spell and got a wee reminder to himself of how good he is.

“He became a Scotland internationalist. He’s experienced some highs at Liverpool, but the majority of the time, it’s been a tough time for him.

“We know his reach is so high if he can get to his levels. We’ve got to be understanding of where he’s been at but equally, we’re in a rush to try and get him to what he’s capable of.

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“I’ve had good conversations with Calvin. I see a difference in him, when you speak to him, with his maturity. He has filled out, he looks a bit more stronger, a bit more capable on that side of it. Underneath it all, he’s still a very talented player.

“People at Liverpool don’t make mistakes. They do their work. They’ve spent a lot of money and they believe in him. Equally, it’s up to us now to try and help him.”

Ramsay will not be Killie’s last addition this month as McInnes is eyeing a centre-back and and a striker.

“Injuries can dictate what you actually have to try and address, and we’ve got two long-term injuries at number nine in Innes Cameron and Kyle Vassell,” he said.

“We’ve also still got a long-term injury with Stuart Findlay being out, so we’re probably looking at more centre-back cover.”