FeatureMeet the Academy: How an Instagram message led to Kyle Kelly representing St. Kitts and Nevis
The story of Kyle Kelly's international career with St. Kitts and Nevis began with a message out of the blue.
"They actually approached me on my social media because I had it in my bio that I was from St. Kitts and Nevis," the U21s midfielder reveals to Liverpoolfc.com. "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] and 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."
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An international debut at senior level followed in March 2024, coming off the bench in a 3-1 win away at San Marino.
The Northampton-born midfielder established himself a regular call-up for the dual-island nation in the West Indies.
It meant a short break when club football paused for international fixtures became a thing of the past for Kelly, who can hardly complain.
"Now it's just straight on a flight there, train, play, fly and then straight back," he says. "So, there's not much time off anymore. It's worth it, definitely.
"It's a lot of travelling. 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."
And then there is the honour of representing the country of his parents.
He continues: "My mum and dad, both of them are full St. Kitts and Nevis. It makes me really, really proud just to know that I'm representing the senior team of the country.
"My shirt from my debut is hung up in my room on a hanger but I think I'm going to get it framed to give it to my dad. They were really proud and watching it on TV."
Kelly, who has been attending the Reds' Academy since 2018 but joined formally in 2020, also boasts another claim to fame.
He may well have had the best view for one of the greatest goals ever scored at Anfield.
When asked about the best strike he's seen live, Kelly modestly offers: "Probably [Mohamed] Salah against Chelsea [in April 2019]. I was the ballboy for that game and he celebrated right in front of me. That's a good memory to have.
"It was unreal, especially because I was so young. Just watching them right there, right in front of me, was such a cool moment. When he scored that goal, he ran over and it was so surreal and then he did that iconic celebration. It was really, really surreal.
"I was probably a ballboy about seven or eight times but that was definitely the most memorable one."
Kelly is a versatile player for the U21s currently and known to be willing to do whatever required.
He styles himself on a key figure of Jürgen Klopp's Premier League- and Champions League-winning Liverpool team.
Kelly explains: "I'd say I can play six, eight or 10. 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."
He is out to make up for lost time, now fit again after missing the second half of last season due to a serious knee injury.
A long-awaited comeback came in November with a brief cameo at League Two Chesterfield in the Vertu Trophy.
Setting up a stoppage-time Kaide Gordon equaliser made the return all the sweeter.
"It's been hard but it [the injury] enabled me to work on things I wouldn't be able to work on if I was fit," Kelly finishes. "I've been doing a lot in the gym and stuff like that.
"It was good to just get back out there, especially in a game where you have your name on the back and there's fans in the stadium, playing against a first team. I only got like five or 10 minutes at that end but I came on and made an impact.
"I'm just trying to progress really, progress for lost time and just keep on getting better and better each day."