Jim Magilton confident Cliftonville star 'definitely got more in him' after Premiership impact

Former Rangers youngster McClelland spent part of last season on loan at Solitude from Glenavon, but his temporary stint was interrupted by injury, limiting him to just two Premiership appearances.

McClelland returned to Cliftonville this summer and has played a key role in their impressive league run, starting in all six matches and scored a second goal during Saturday’s 3-1 win at Carrick Rangers.

The 24-year-old, who also gained Irish League experience during a loan at Coleraine from Hibernian during the 2024/25 campaign, has settled in North Belfast, but Magilton feels there’s even more to come from McClelland.

“I've known him a long time,” said Magilton. "I've watched him come through the ranks with the international teams, so I know Kyle, I know what he can give us.

"I know what qualities he has and he's definitely got more in him.

"That's always been the case with him, he was always an outstanding young prospect, but now he's got an opportunity and a platform to go and play and he has to take it.”

Cliftonville currently sit third after winning four of their first six league matches with only leaders Coleraine (15) registering more goals than Magilton’s men (11) at this stage.

Carrick went ahead through Caleb Hawthorne, who marked his Premiership debut with a dream goal, before McClelland and Ben Quinn scored for the Reds prior to half-time.

Dean McMaster secured maximum points in injury time and Magilton was left delighted with the result.

"It's a really tough place to come and they have a way of playing and they use all those attributes...long throws, set-pieces but people can tend to be slightly disparaging about that,” he added. "We scored a fantastic set-piece goal and the quality that Carrick have in their team, the quality players, the quality players that they didn't have today, so it shows you a lot about the resilience in that group too to put up such a fantastic showing.

"You know that you're going to have to work hard, you know that they're going to ask you questions, you have to be brave, you have to be strong defensively.

"There were parts of our game very pleasing, obviously the goals were well-worked goals, two great set-pieces and a fantastic individual effort.

"Our team goal finished off by Ben, so yeah, it's about building momentum.

"Nobody will really remember too much about the game other than probably the result.

"I think we can play better with the ball, but certainly that's down to how hard Carrick set up and how hard they made it for us.

"Once the (third) goal goes in, you're obviously relaxed to an extent knowing that we've got three points.

"At this stage of the season, still early on in the season, it's about getting results and building momentum and building confidence.

"That should build confidence within the players.

"They're developing all the time and they're coming together as a group.

"For some of them, it's a first-time experience here, so we've got to use that and go again.”