Rangers manager Philippe Clement handed a dream debut to now AC Milan star Charles de Ketelaere at Club Brugge.
The former manager at the Belgian club selected Charles de Ketelaere for his first game as a professional footballer back in 2019.
Since then the now 22-year-old Belgian international has seen his career go from strength to strength with the attacking midfielder joining AC Milan in a £30m deal last summer.
Currently out on loan at Atalanta, Charles de Ketelaere has 14 caps and two goals for the Belgian national side.
Philippe Clement has played a key role in the development of Charles de Ketelaere, with the manager using the kid extensively before moving to AS Monaco in the January of 2022.
This bodes well for Rangers fans who hope to the see club nurture more young talent and bring them through into the squad.
Philippe Clement to give Rangers youth a chance
Philippe Clement has been clear that he will give youth a chance if he believes they are ready and we’re seeing this play out in the case of Ross McCausland.
The young winger has had a rollercoaster month under Belgian boss Philippe Clement, going from the club’s B team to the Northern Ireland first-team in a matter of weeks.
There is also much talk surrounding a new contract for McCausland, who is said to be attracting interest from the Premier League and Serie A.
Speaking after the 2-0 win over Livingston, Philippe Clement praised Ross McCausland’s personality and insisted, as he did with Charles de Ketelaere at Club Brugge, he will continue to bring through young talent.
“He’s still a young lad but with the right mentality,” said Clement. “He works hard in training and is very focused, and I’m also a manager who gives chances to young players if they show the right things in training and I’ll pick the right moments to put them on or bring them in.”
Charles de Ketelaere an Ibrox inspiration
Rangers have a host of young options on the outskirts of the squad, with Ross McCausland joined by the likes of Academy stars Leon King, Bailey Rice, Adam Devine and Zak Lovelace.
Alex Lowry is also out on loan and the club have other options such as Cole McKinnon or even Robbie Fraser, who played for the Scotland U21s this week.
If any of these names can go on to have a fraction of the impact Charles de Ketelaere had at Club Brugge, then Rangers will be doing very well indeed.
But if someone is to make the grade at Ibrox, then they will need to buck a recent Ibrox academy trend.
