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Rangers legend Derek Johnstone is hoping to see some young players stake a claim to be members of Steven Gerrard’s first-team squad next season, speaking to The Evening Times.
What’s he said?
Rangers will soon be heading off for a ten day pre-season training camp in Portugal and if last year’s similar trip is anything to go by, plenty of youngsters will be making the trip too, to train alongside established first-team members.
Johnstone believes it’s the perfect chance for them to show the progress they have made in the club’s reserve and youth sides.
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As quoted by The Evening Times, he said:
“Steven Gerrard has always said that he will give his young players a game at Rangers if they can prove that they are good enough. That is the chance a few of them have at the training camp in Portugal and in the friendly fixtures we’ve got this summer.
The manager played down the importance of the kids winning the leagues and cups that they won last season, saying it was more about players coming through the ranks.
That is true. It won’t do the youngsters any harm having that mentality, though, because when you get to that first team you have to be a winner.It is a wonderful feeling when you are that age and you are winning for Rangers but the players want to do it up a level and they need to catch Steven’s eye this summer.”
Who’s closest to getting a chance?
Gerrard has already shown that youngsters like Glenn Middleton will get a first-team opportunity if they impress enough of the training pitch. The winger got plenty of game time in the first half of last season before falling out of favour at senior level.
The former Norwich player will be hoping he can impress again over the next few weeks, having looked back to his exciting best for the reserve side in the closing stages of last term.
Another out to impress will be striker Zak Rudden, who scored 12 goals in the Scottish Championship last term on loan at Falkirk and on Friday signed a new contract.
With others, such as Scottish Youth Cup final man of the match Josh McPake and reserves team captain Cammy Palmer, also showing good progress, Gerrard will have plenty of options to turn to in upcoming friendlies.