Ross McCrorie has plenty of confidence in his own ability – but will the new Rangers manager?
Most budding 18-year-old footballers-to-be could only dream about starting in front of a 50,000 capacity crowd on a weekly basis. And though Ross McCrorie is yet to make his senior Rangers debut, the teenage defender believes he is ready to turn his hopes of playing in the club’s first-team into a reality.
The Scotland youth international certainly has some pedigree in the Rangers academy system. He has captained the club’s Under-20 team after all and, although he has more than enough time on his side, the defender is in no mood for his career to progress in baby steps.
In a Q&A with supporters on the Rangers youth Twitter page, McCrorie confirmed his desire to force his way into Pedro Caixinha’s first-team plans next season.
Currently on loan at second division Dumbarton, working alongside former Rangers coach Ian Durrant, McCrorie is only adding to a reputation built via a successful temporary stint with Ayr United last season in which he helped earn the club promotion into the Scottish Championship.
However, despite the fact that 38-year-old Clint Hill’s contract expires at the end of the season (below) and the other defenders at Caixinha’s disposal, namely Rob Kiernan and Danny Wilson, have struggled of late, it seems unlikely that the youngster will be fast tracked into the first-team as soon as he would like.
Nonetheless, that does not mean the Portuguese should discard with McCrorie before giving him a fair crack of the whip – that didn’t win previous manager Mark Warburton too many points in the popularity stakes.
22-year-old Luca Gasparotto has been in excellent form in the second tier with Falkirk this season after being released in the summer despite demonstrating promise on the rare occasions he was given an opportunity. To the right of him in the backline, fellow Rangers graduate Fraser Aird has also impressed since arriving in January.
Furthermore, young midfielder Andy Murdoch has been in inspired form for Greenock Morton.
But will Caixinha learn lessons from Warburton?
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