Cammy Bell denies switch to Rangers

Reports this week suggested the Rugby Park No 1 was close to penning a deal with the Ibrox club which would see him join Ally McCoist’s side after their transfer embargo ends on 1 September.

Bell admits his agent has held discussions with the runaway Third Division leaders but was adamant that he has yet to put pen to paper. And the Scotland cap admits there is still a chance he could stay with Kilmarnock in the SPL or even join another as-yet-unnamed suitor. The 26-year-old said: “There have been discussions but I haven’t signed anything with anyone yet. My only focus right now is to be with Kilmarnock until the end of the season and do my best for them.

“I’m still in talks with Kilmarnock, too, and, while I know there’s been a lot in the press about it, nothing has been done. My agent has spoken to a number of different clubs. He’s been talking to Kilmarnock for the last two or three months, and there’s been three or four other clubs who have contacted him to ask about my situation.

“I feel it’s only right that, as a player, I look at all avenues but nothing has been agreed yet. I’m injured at the minute and that is what I’m concentrating on.”

His hip injury means Bell will miss Kilmarnock’s trip to Inverness tonight alongside injured team-mates Rory McKeown and Cillian Sheridan. With those three first-team regulars unavailable, manager Kenny Shiels will once again put his faith in youngsters such as Ross Barbour, Mark O’Hara and William Gros, having lost three players in the January transfer window.

Meanwhile, Inverness midfielder Nick Ross says he needs to add both stamina and goals to his game as he continues his recovery following four months out injured. The 21-year-old dislocated his shoulder in August and only returned to action just before the new year. He has made three brief substitute appearances since then before reclaiming his starting role for games against Kilmarnock and Celtic as he readjusts to the hectic pace of the SPL.

But Scotland Under-21 cap Ross – who struck the opener in Saturday’s 3-1 defeat to Neil Lennon’s SPL champions – insists he needs to complement his growing lung capacity with an eye for goal. He said: “It was very good to get on the scoresheet at the weekend. It’s something I need to add to my game. In my first season in the SPL it took me 30-odd games to get a goal. So it was good to get one against Celtic after coming back from being injured.

“It was just a shame about the result and we’ll look to do better tomorrow. I’ve got two for the season and two isn’t bad. Just getting games at the moment is the important thing. If I can get back fit, hopefully the goals will come.”

Ross injured his shoulder in another defeat to Celtic just four games into the new campaign and was forced to undergo surgery before he could resume playing duties. But the pace of the SPL is still taking him time to get used to. “I was stuck on the bench for a long time and in the gym getting fit again and that’s tough,” he said. “I’m still getting used to the tempo. On Saturday it was tough. The first 20 minutes were hectic but I got used to it before tiring at the end. But that is to be expected because of the length of time I was out.”