Rangers youngster Serge Atakayi is making a real impression for the club’s under-20’s.
General view outside Ibrox
Earlier this week, Rangers chairman Dave King told the club’s official website that the club’s academy was the most impressive it has been in nearly 20 years, as the club look to develop young talent.
Whilst the focus of that will be on bringing through local players, Rangers will also be hoping to bring in players from elsewhere and educate them in the Gers academy, with Serge Atakayi one such player.
Atakayi, 18, underwent a trial with Premier League champions Leicester City last year (Daily Mail), but ended up joining Rangers back in August, leaving FF Jaro in Finland.
The winger, born in the Democratic Republic of Congo, has featured for Finland at youth level having moved there at a young age, and he has been tipped for a bright future for club and country.
A pacey winger, Atakayi has been making an impression in the Rangers under-20’s this season, and he scored another two goals against Hearts in the SPFL Development League on Monday evening, prompting a reaction on Twitter from the teenager.
Impressing for the Rangers youth setup has earned Myles Beerman and David Bates playing time under new Rangers boss Pedro Caixinha in the last two league games, and Atakayi may well be hoping to follow suit by making his debut before the end of the season.
Jonatan Johansson celebrates scoring for Rangers
Joe Dodoo’s impact against Aberdeen on Sunday makes that more difficult, but with Michael O’Halloran’s future in doubt after missing that under-20 game with Hearts (Daily Mail), Atakayi now has a chance to push for the first team between now and the summer.
Add in that Atakayi’s compatriot Jonatan Johansson has just become an assistant to Caixinha, and the teenager may be hoping that his fellow Finn can oversee his progression into senior football, having impressed at under-20 level – and with Caixinha having no qualms about throwing in young players when necessary, Atakayi has a real chance to become the latest Gers youngster to win first-team playing time.
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