The international break is almost over, and Rangers manager Graeme Murty has given fans cause for hope.
Rangers manager Graeme Murty has a lot on his plate heading into the final weeks of the season, but despite that, he’s still found time to give fans of British football some hope regarding the future state of their national teams.
It is not like this one statement is going to enhance the likelihood of the home nations qualifying for the World Cup or anything, but hopefully, what it will do is spur younger stars on to improve their game and one day turn out for their country.
“Lots of different people [are] coming here and getting international recognition,” Murty told the official Rangers website.
“This has lit a fire under those left behind to say ‘I want a piece of that’ and ‘I want to go and experience what it is like at the next level’.”
With Murty providing examples of recent call-ups to Portugal, Scotland and Wales, it’s clear to see that this doesn’t just apply to a ‘needle in a haystack’ type of player. For the Scottish Premiership as a whole, it’s a huge sign of potential that stars from around the world could decide to ply their trade in the division, especially given the level of competition, but it also means much more than that for England’s neighbours.
There’s more young talent in Northern Ireland, Wales and Scotland than there has been in an awfully long time, as evidenced by the continued growth of success from youth teams all over the British Isles. There’s a clear determination on display, and if what Murty is saying is correct, that passion will only continue to grow.
In recent years it seems as if money has been prioritised above the desire to play for your country, which is probably why things have been so bleak for so long now. However, if we can drill into this next generation just how much stock is put into international football by supporters, we could start to see a real difference.
It’s not going to happen overnight, but the potential is there.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
