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Cole McKinnon makes Rangers reserves appearance less than 72 hours after lifting U17 cup

General Views of Ibrox Stadium before the Ladbrokes Scottish Premiership match between Rangers and Hamilton Academical at Ibrox Stadium on August 6...
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The young Rangers midfielder played alongside several Ibrox first-team hopefuls on Monday.

General Views of Ibrox Stadium before the Ladbrokes Scottish Premiership match between Rangers and Hamilton Academical at Ibrox Stadium on August 6, 2016 in Glasgow, Scotland.

One of Rangers’ ALKASS Cup winning players was rewarded with a run-out for the Ibrox side’s reserves on Monday.

Cole McKinnon was an integral member of the Rangers Under-17 squad which returned victorious from Qatar at the weekend, and scored in the Gers’ tournament opener against Raja Casablanca.

But unlike the the rest of his young teammates – including the free-scoring striker Nathan Young-Coombes – McKinnon was thrust straight into action as Rangers’ second string were held to a 1-1 draw at Dunfermline.

The midfielder replaced Joao Balde in the closing stages at New Central Park, as another of Rangers’ U17 champions, Harris O’Connor, remained on the substitutes’ bench.

And despite making only a fleeting appearance, to be playing at all at that level is some achievement for McKinnon, who only turned 16 at the end of last month.

Callum Smith gave Dunfermline a 30th-minute lead from the penalty spot, before Balde converted Dapo Mebude’s cut-back four minutes later.

Rangers manager Steven Gerrard looks on during the Ladbrookes Scottish Premiership match between Rangers and St Johnstone at Ibrox Stadium on February 16, 2019 in Glasgow, Scotland.

Which of Rangers’ U17s can make the first team squad at Ibrox?