Rangers Under-19s secured a 1-1 draw against Queen’s Park on Tuesday and won the penalty shootout 4-2 to earn a bonus point.
Ruaridh Hall, 15, showed immense composure to capitalise on a mistake by Queen’s Park as he slotted the ball into the back of the net to equalise for the Gers.
Malky Thomson was thrilled with the finish as well as the resilience his side showed to claw their way back into the game and also earn a bonus point.
Aiden McCallion plays first full 90 minutes since November injury
Aiden McCallion suffered a serious knee injury back in November, in a game against Hamilton in the KDM Evolution Trophy.
The 17-year-old midfielder has been out of action for three months, but took an important step towards becoming a regular for the Under-19s.
Rangers Review noted that McCallion played the full 90 minutes in the 1-1 draw against Queen’s Park.
The teenager did return to the side a few weeks ago as his minutes were being ramped up, but his playing the entire game is a major boost for the Gers side.
The midfielder is highly rated in the academy, giving Thomson a much-needed selection boost at a crucial juncture of the season.
Why McCallion is rated so highly at Rangers
McCallion is a press-resistant midfielder who likes the ball at his feet and controlling the tempo in games.
He possesses great maturity with and without the ball and will certainly be among the first of his counterparts to be given a first-team call-up by Danny Rohl.
The German may even have the 17-year-old as part of his pre-season training in June, and he could even play in a few friendlies with the seniors for the coaching staff to gauge his level.
Last season, McCallion was named the club’s Academy Player of the Year for his consistent performances over the course of the 2024/25 campaign.
The teenager has been a part of first-team training already with Michael Beale, Barry Ferguson and Russell Martin, also including him in sessions with the senior players.
He has made the matchday squad for a Europa League clash, so his first-team debut does not seem to be far away.
