Andrew Dallas is the latest academy graduate who has left Rangers without ever making a Scottish Premiership appearance.
Cambridge United’s head of football Ben Strang could hardly be happier after landing Rangers striker Andrew Dallas, telling the U’s official website that the young Scot has ‘significant potential’.
20-year-old Dallas had long been tipped for big things at Ibrox and his departure has certainly left some supporters disappointed that he never got the chance to fulfil his potential in royal blue.
The centre-forward leaves Rangers having never made a top flight appearance with the arrivals of Alfredo Morelos, Jermain Defoe and Greg Stewart in the last two years pushing him down the pecking order.
Dallas, a prolific goalscorer at youth level, has now been forced to leave in order to make the step up to the senior game, signing for League Two outfit Cambridge after a brief trial period.
Manager Colin Calderwood is confident that Dallas can shine in the fourth tier of English football while Strang believes The U’s have signed a potential future star.
“Andrew is a player with a positive reputation in Scotland. He has been at a top club and scored goals against some big European clubs in youth football. We are convinced he can transition his goal scoring instinct and traits in to the Football League and be a success here,” Strang said.
“We are confident we have signed a young forward with significant potential.”
‘Significant potential’ is certainly a term that has followed Dallas around during his short career to date and it remains to be seen whether Rangers have made the right call letting him go.
In recent years, the likes of Kenny McLean (below), Dylan McGeouch, Greg Taylor and Lewis Morgan have been allowed to leave before making their name elsewhere so perhaps Rangers need to do more to hang onto their most promising youngsters.
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