Rangers are once again being linked with Kenny McLean but, according to his former St Mirren coach David Longwell, the Glasgow giants never should have let him go when he was a budding youngster at Auchenhowie (Daily Record).
12 years after the Gers opted not to extend the contract of a teenage midfielder, McLean could finally be on his way back to Ibrox.
The Sun (15 November, page 65) reports that the Scotland international has been identified by Steven Gerrard as an ideal addition to an already well-stocked engine room.
What’s more, boyhood Gers fanatic McLean is understood to be open to the idea of returning to the club who let him go over a decade ago, with the opportunity to stop Celtic’s ten-in-a-row dream providing plenty of motivation.
McLean has three years left on his Norwich City contract, however, and the 28-year-old will not come cheap.
“He has an incredible talent and belief in himself that he is going to do things that others can’t do,” ex-St Mirren boss Longwell said after McLean’s pinpoint penalty helped Scotland qualify for Euro 2020 at Serbia’s expense.
“As soon as we saw him (as a teenager), he handled the ball so well and moved really well. We signed him after watching him in one session because he looked that good, he just needed time to develop physically.
“Even then, he had a calmness and a real confidence when he was on the ball.
“I guess if you look back now it’s been a mistake on (Rangers’) part (letting McLean go), because he hadn’t developed physically yet. It just shows they were wrong.”
McLean started 32 Premier League games last season and, while Norwich finished bottom of the division, the Scot still made his mark on the top flight with a series of energetic displays.
And his blend of physical and technical gifts makes him a perfect fit for Steven Gerrard’s Rangers team.
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