Rangers boss Steven Gerrard has told Rangers TV that he now wants to see how Leon King reacts after being given a first-team chance on Sunday.
The Gers travelled to take on Falkirk in the Scottish League Cup on Sunday evening, and were looking to avoid embarrassment after Celtic lost 2-0 at home to Ross County.
They did just that as Jermain Defoe, Calvin Bassey, Borna Barisic and James Tavernier all found the net in a thumping win for Rangers as they reached the last eight.
Rangers will now be favourites to win the competition, and Gerrard took the chance on Sunday to utilise some of his young prospects.
Midfielder Ciaran Dickson and defender King both came on as substitutes, with the teenagers being rewarded for strong performances in training.
King, 16, is still very young and likely won’t taste much more first-team football this season, with Connor Goldson, Leon Balogun, Filip Helander and Bassey in contention at centre back.
Still, Gerrard gave him a taste of first-team football on Sunday, and believes he is slightly different to Dickson because is younger and not quite ready for more playing time yet.
Gerrard added that he now wants to see how King reacts to playing in the first team, as he wants to see the defender keep his feet on the ground and not get carried away.
“King is slightly different – he is younger and it is probably a little too early for him but because we lost Fil [Helander] before the game and because he has been training so well, I just wanted to give him a taste of it and I will be looking at him closely now to see his reaction from the taste,” said Gerrard.
“I’ll be making sure his feet stay firmly on the ground so he keeps pushing as hard as he can,” he added.
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