23-07-2025
Kilmarnock gaffer confident Kelty Hearts loan spell can help young keeper shine
The 19-year-old has joined the League One outfit for the season
Young goalkeeper Corey Armour has been tipped to force his way into the Kilmarnock reckoning if he can shine at Kelty.
The young stopper has joined the League One club on loan for the campaign and featured in both of the Fife club's Premier Sports Cup games prior to being ineligible to face his parent club yesterday evening.
Killie gaffer Stuart Kettlewell reckons the 19-year-old has all the attributes to make it a successful stint at New Central Park - and says he was made aware of Kelty's interest in the stopper on his very first day in the Rugby Park hotseat.
Kettlewell said: 'Tam O'Ware at Kelty was desperate to get him in. He'd done his homework. He'd watched him from last season. He knew that he's a really talented young goalkeeper.
'I was at their game at the weekend, and I spoke to Corey on Monday. He knows that he can do an awful lot better with the goal he conceded (against East Fife), but sitting next to their directors and their officials, they're over the moon with him.
'I was really positive with him, done a bit of pre-season, he had a bit of game time for us but that plan with Fraser Stewart, our goalkeeping coach, was that we get him out and expose him to more senior football.
'There was no point in him sitting here being a no.2 or a no.3 not getting an opportunity at his age - he needs to get out and play.'
He added: 'Kelty made their intentions clear. What's really important sometimes is that somebody comes and asks you for a player. I think sometimes what you see is, 'we're just looking for players, we're just looking for anybody'.
'I think they have been really specific in who they want and have been really determined - from the first day I walked in, Fraser had mentioned that there had been contact and real interest there.
'That shows me their intentions and what they want to try and do with Corey this season.
'But I think rest assured, I've seen enough from Corey that if he continues to make the improvements that he has done over the last year or so, then I think he's one that really starts to come into the equation for us here as one of our own. I think he can push on if he continues that progression.'
