Patrick Kelly reminded me of a young Robbie Keane

Current Coleraine head coach Ruaidhri Higgins has backed former Bannsider Patrick Kelly to flourish at international level after being included in the senior NI squad for the first time.

Kelly, who emerged as a serious talent at the Showgrounds before joining West Ham, received the call-up from Michael O'Neill for this week's World Cup double header against Slovakia and Luxembourg.

And the Bannsiders' boss, who first saw glimpses of the Barnsley midfielder's talent when he worked in the Coleraine FC Academy, has no doubts he has the talent and determination to succeed.

"I coached in the Academy back in 2015/16 - I coached the year above him - and I remember him, he was like a wee, tiny centre forward," said Higgins.

"He reminded me so much of Robbie Keane back then, I think he was 12 or 13.

"Then I left to go to Dundalk and I think the next time I seen him play a live match was the League Cup final at Windsor against Cliftonville.

"I remember watching it live. I think he was 17 at the time and he'd grown about seven or eight inches and he was a box to box midfielder. He was absolutely brilliant on the day.

"I remember seeing him at 12/13 and thinking he's got a real chance. I don't know the lad particularly well, I know him a wee bit, he probably doesn't even remember me but I saw him at the cup final and I thought he's gonna have a brilliant career," he added.

"I'm delighted for him – it's great for this club, great for the young Academy players coming through because they can see that progression.

"So fair play to him; he's a really brilliant young man, he's highly thought of around these parts and I wish him nothing but the best.

"He's got a bright future ahead of him and he'll learn a lot in that environment. I think he's shown over the course of his career that he's not fazed by anything.

"You look at that cup final, that was a sort of key indicator that nothing really fazes him. He was a young boy going into the lion's den, a cup final at the national stadium and a big crowd, and he was able to perform.

"I'd love to see him do great at that level."