Rangers need to do one of two things to fix the problem with home grown players and, unfortunately, developing our own via the academy isn’t a quick fix.
Given the players who have left the academy in recent seasons though, is it actually Auchenhowie that is the problem or is it higher up the chain?
Giovanni van Bronckhorst would put his faith in the young players when he was Rangers manager, however, both Steven Gerrard and Michael Beale would always opt for a veteran when bodies were short but the current shortage isn’t because of the academy.
Rangers need to find a way for academy to pay dividends
All you have to do is have a quick look at the young players who have left as teenagers or in recent years to see that the set-up can produce good youngsters.
Billy Gilmour and Nathan Patterson are the best examples from recent years, however, a look at the national team shows Liam Kelly, Greg Taylor, Kenny McLean and Lewis Ferguson as others who spent much of their development at Rangers.
It is three current Scotland Under-21 internationals that are sore to take though.
A double header against Belgium and Hungary should see Leon King and Alex Lowry feature but in attack there will be familiar names too.
Rory Wilson
Ripping it up for Aston Villa Under-18s since leaving Rangers last year, the 17-year old has seen a growth spurt send him over 6ft tall to add to his blistering pace and natural finishing ability.
Could he be the great white hope of Scottish football and the goalscorer that the country has waited decades for?
Robbie Ure
The 6ft 3inch tall teen has taken the path less travelled and turned down the chance to slog it in the SPFL’s lower leagues by moving to Anderlecht’s B team.
Three goals in four games suggests that it has been the right decision and a move to the senior team could be on the cards given the quality and variety of the goals he has scored.
Dire Mebude
Sold by Manchester City to Westerlo in Belgium’s Juniper League for less than £2m, Rangers really should have entertained bringing the former academy player back up the road.
A natural right winger who was prolific in the Premier League champion’s Under-23s, Mebude has shown that he is brave enough to make big decisions and has backed himself to succeed.
These three could all still be in Rangers B team, playing together.
All are under 20 but are showing the sort of potential that would have seen them pushing for a promotion to the first-team at Rangers from the academy.
The problem isn’t that we can’t identify and develop good, young players, it’s that we don’t give them a chance or offer the sort of pathway that makes it worth their while staying.
Something that Philippe Clement has to fix.
