BWhen Lloyd Kelly and Eddie Howe reunited, the conversation soon turned to sorting out loose ends. “It definitely feels like we have unfinished business,” says Kelly. “That’s what we said when we first met after I signed for Newcastle. It’s mutual – we’re on the same page.”

The left-back, or left-sided centre-back, was first introduced to Howe six years ago when the then Bournemouth manager poached him from Bristol City and given the mutual admiration between the pair, it is no surprise that Lloyd followed his mentor from the south coast to Tyneside.

After two months in his new home, there is no sign of disappointment. “I’m happy to be here. There is a lot of enthusiasm in this club, a special atmosphere,” says the 25-year-old. “It’s a huge club, but seeing Eddie Howe again has contributed a lot to that. We’ve had a long relationship.”

It helps that he trusts Newcastle’s coach implicitly. “Our relationship in Bournemouth was good; I could always come to him when I needed something,” he says. “His style of play was exciting and he always wants to improve his players.”

Since leaving Bournemouth, Howe has adapted to the latest tactical trends and become the high priest of pressing. “I would say the basic principles of how he wants his players to play and train have remained the same,” says Kelly. “But he has refined his philosophy. I’m still trying to understand how he wants me to play in this team.”

Former Newcastle footballers have compared life in the city to living in a goldfish bowl, but Kelly is undaunted. “I spoke to a few players about it,” he says. “When I came here and looked around the city before I signed, I was recognised. It was a lovely feeling.”

“I understand that it can be a very demanding club to play for, but I 100% have the character and personality to cope with it. And everyone has welcomed me so warmly.”

The certainty in Kelly’s voice is that of a survivor. “I grew up in a foster family from the age of six or seven until I was 18,” he says. “That shaped me.”

“You learn something for life at an early age. It has made me who I am today and what I stand for. I wouldn’t change anything that happened in my childhood, because without it I wouldn’t be sitting here today as a professional footballer.”

“It gives you resilience and strength. It teaches you that although life can be tough, you can fight through it and get out of certain situations. You can always take something positive out of any situation; it definitely gives you that personal resilience.”

Although Kelly was cared for by three different foster families, it helped that he always moved as part of a group that included his older sister and younger brother. “It was thanks to my caregivers that I was able to continue my career in soccer,” he says. “They took me to practice and dragged my sister and brother along. It was a blessing that we were always together because you don’t see that very often, especially with three kids of different ages.

“We were looked after by three different families. We moved around a bit. Like all siblings, we had our arguments, but the bond between us is not broken. The three of us are super strong together.

“When we moved to another home, the people who looked after us had to earn the trust of all three of us. That was difficult at times and I’m not sure I really understood that as a child. It’s only when you’re an adult that you think about everything that happened. When you’re older, you know how much these people did for us and what they had to deal with. When you take in children, you don’t know what to expect.”

For all his openness, Kelly prefers to keep the reasons for the family’s move to a care home a secret. “It’s something I’ve put behind me and don’t dwell on,” he says, before stressing his ongoing gratitude to the care system. “I’ve worked quite a bit with care agencies in Bristol and also with the city council. I’m always a big advocate for people to take in foster children. It’s an incredible thing.”

“Not everyone comes out of care and being thrown into a completely new situation as well as others, but being able to offer someone a loving home means an incredible amount to us.

“I want to be that voice for these kids and also for the caregivers. I want to be an inspiration for kids in that situation. If you focus, if you put hard work into something you want to do and don’t worry about the situation you’re in, you can go on and make something of yourself.

“I know where I come from, so I definitely appreciate the life I live now more. I know I’m very lucky to be here. I’m very grateful.”

Not to mention his ambition. After representing England at Under-21 level, Kelly hopes to progress to the senior team. “It’s always been on my mind,” he says. “The next World Cup is something I want to work towards.”