Liverpool star earned international call-up after country slid into his Instagram DMs

Liverpool midfielder Kyle Kelly, 20, has detailed how his international debut for St. Kitts and Nevis came about, with a representative sliding into his Instagram DMs

James Berry of Chesterfield is put under pressure by Kyle Kelly of Liverpool during a Vertu Trophy game.(Image: Annabel Lee-Ellis/Getty Images)

Young Liverpool midfielder Kyle Kelly has outlined how he came to play for St. Kitts and Nevis at international level, with a representative from the Caribbean island reaching out via Instagram.

Kelly made his senior debut for the country where his parents are from in March 2024, coming off the bench in a 3-1 win away at San Marino. Though he was born in Northampton, he was eligible to switch and jumped at the chance.

In doing so, Kelly emulated Conor Bradley in making his senior international debut before he had played a game for Liverpool. Now 20, he is yet to play for the Reds above the academy level.

"They actually approached me on my social media because I had it in my bio that I was from St. Kitts and Nevis," Kelly told the Reds' official website.

"They approached me via Instagram and then they got the club's contact details. I kind of left it for a bit because I wasn't sure [if it was real].

"Then the person that messaged me was an ex-footballer that's now working with St. Kitts and Nevis. That's how I thought that it was legit. I was U18s at the time. It was a bit mad."

(Image: Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)

A direct flight to St. Kitts and Nevis takes more than 10 hours from the UK, making it a substantial commitment.

"It's just straight on a flight there, train, play, fly and then straight back," Kelly explained. "So, there's not much time off anymore. But it's worth it, definitely.

"It's a lot of traveling. If it's in St. Kitts and Nevis, normally I have a day in Miami for transit. We go from London to Miami, a day in Miami, and then Miami to St. Kitts. It's really worth it — it's sunny over there!

"Obviously it's a senior game, so it's much different. It's good to have a feel of it, the men's game.

"One hundred per cent it's preparing me. Just to play in that environment with men and being in a men's changing room, little things are preparing me for the future I want to be in really."

Looking ahead, Kelly wants to emulate a player he saw plenty of times when he first joined the Liverpool academy around eight years ago.

"I'd say I can play six, eight or 10," Kelly said. "I'd like to say I'm creative as well, try to create chances as well.

"I think someone like Gini Wijnaldum is someone I look up to, a bit versatile, can play anywhere, can do anything. I just want to reach my potential and try to get better in all aspects of my football, really."