[5] On 6 February 2011, he scored his first Rangers goal with a stunning long-range strike in the third minute of a fifth round Scottish Cup match, at home to Celtic.
[8] Prior to the start of the 2011–12 season, Ness and his teammate Gregg Wylde were issued with first team squad numbers by Rangers manager Ally McCoist.
Ness missed most of the 2011–12 season due to injury playing just five matches for Rangers and scored his first league goal in a 5–0 win over Dundee United on 2 May 2012.
[14] It took a while until he was granted international clearance by FIFA due to contract dispute with Rangers but he made his first appearance in a Stoke shirt in a pre-season match against Columbus Crew on 24 July 2012.
[15][16] He made his competitive debut for Stoke against Swindon Town in the Football League Cup but he failed to finish the match after suffering an injury.
[18] On 11 January he scored his first goal in English football on his home debut for the club in a 4–0 win over Carlisle United.
[31][32] Ness grew up supporting Rangers and English club Manchester United and he cites Danny Wilson as his best friend in football.
[33] In November 2012, Ness and his girlfriend Heather Weir were saved from carbon monoxide poisoning by their pet Labrador which had been acting strangely.