Glasgow Rangers have tied the Ibrox youngster down to a new contract after McAllister and Steven Gerrard were impressed with his progress.
Glasgow Rangers assistant manager Gary McAllister has spoken highly of Jamie Barjonas following the 20-year-old penning a new contract at Ibrox this week, admitting he is “unfortunate” to have such strong competition in the middle of the park but stressing he has a “part to play” at the Gers.
Barjonas, who spent last season on loan at Bury and Raith Rovers, has extended his Rangers deal until 2021, giving him a chance to “continue his development and realise his potential” at Ibrox (Rangers website).
Making his debut at Ibrox against Partick Thistle as an 18-year-old in 2017, Barjonas has made a further eight appearances for the club he has been at since he was nine, and has impressed McAllister, boss Steven Gerrard and the Ibrox coaching staff sufficiently enough to be handed a new contract tying him to Gers until the summer of 2021.
“When we arrived here, we looked at him and I don’t think it’s ever been in doubt he is a technical footballer who can play football,” McAllister told the Rangers website. “His ability to get around the pitch is something we questioned – we put a programme to him and he has gone away, been diligent and come back a player in a different body. He now has a body capable of playing at this level, and he trains with us every day.
“He is unfortunate that one of the strongest parts of our squad here at Rangers is the middle of the park. But I think there will be moments where we might need to call upon him and we have no doubts he can compete at this level as he has given himself a better chance – he has the body to do it. So it is nice to see him being rewarded and he has a part to play.”
The deal for Barjonas follows the tying down of Ryan Jack and Nikola Katic on new contracts at Ibrox this month.
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