Rangers manager Steven Gerrard handed a league debut to teenage defender Leon King last night as the Gers moved to within one game of an unbeaten league season – and hopefully, there will be more to follow next season.
With the news the Gers should have a B team in the Lowland League next season, there will be even more focus on the Academy and fans will be hoping that there is another Nathan Patterson waiting to burst onto the scene.
A host of young talents have been on loan this season with players in all four divisions of the SPFL as well as one or two south of the border too, with Rangers looking to maximise how much game time they got in the face of ongoing Covid restrictions.
There are a host of talented youngsters like Josh McPake, Kai Kennedy, Robby McCrorie, Lewis Mayo and Ben Williamson who will all be hoping they can get a chance with the first-team in coming months.
Gerrard has handed a number of debuts to young Gers players over his three years in charge at Ibrox and here are some we think could have a role to play next season as the Light Blues look to make it 56 titles.
Leon King
King has made a couple of first-team appearances now after making his debut against Falkirk in the League Cup late last year. While there are a pretty strong group of defenders at Ibrox, King isn’t likely to be a regular in the side but there could well be a few more opportunities come his way.
The Gers’ Champions League ambitions will stretch the squad and the fringe players, coupled with likely departures this summer, will see King likely feature in League Cup games and early Scottish Cup rounds.
While King could potentially find himself heading out on loan, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him regularly named on the bench for the Light Blues and taking up a homegrown spot in the European squad.
James Maxwell
Full-back Maxwell has spent part of the season on loan with Championship side Queen of the South and the young defender could well have found himself thrust into the first-team at Ibrox had he not moved to the Doonhamers.
The absence of Borna Barisic and Calvin Bassey has left Joe Aribo needing to slot in at left-back and Maxwell will no doubt feel it is an opportunity missed.
He’s impressed at Palmerston and looks like he’s going to be challenging Bassey to act as Barisic’s back-up next season.
Stephen Kelly
Kelly was one of a couple of Gers kids to be loaned to Premiership sides this season and has put in some impressive performances for the Staggies.
Steven Gerrard has made no secret of how highly he rates the Scotland under-21 star and it would make sense if he is given an opportunity to stake a claim for a first-team place next season.
Rangers have short on bodies at times in midfield this season thanks to injury and suspension and Kelly will be hoping he gets an opportunity to shine after the summer.
In other news, some Rangers fans think linked-away star has silenced doubters
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