Rangers are starting to look to the future with how they build a team with Philippe Clement putting his trust in those willing to do the hard yards.
The manager issued a thinly veiled threat about senior players Kieran Dowell and Rabbi Matondo only a matter of weeks ago, with both players now having left Ibrox.
One player who can’t catch a break is Leon King who, after being given a start for Rangers against Union Saint Gilloise, had to leave the pitch with an injury that will concern Clement.
- READ MORE: EFL linked winger who was desperate for Rangers chance to leave after contract talks stall
Leon King concern as Rangers defender suffers worrying injury
With James Tavernier deployed at centre-half, King was tasked with playing on the right of the defence in a position he has played before for the first team.
With less than 20 minutes on the clock, King challenged for a header, continued playing but then had to receive treatment for a head knock.
The 21-year old, who made his debut five years ago under Steven Gerrard, couldn’t continue and was seen telling the Rangers physio “I can’t see”.
What is worrying for King, and Rangers, is that this isn’t the first concussion that the young defender has had.
Football is yet to catch up with rugby in terms of the protocols for head injuries and if King hadn’t said something, he could have been put further at risk.
Although he wasn’t named, Nils Koppen gave a less-than-subtle critique of one of the problems at Rangers with King, potentially, one of the players targeted.
What did Nils Koppen say about high earning academy players?
Referring to young players on big wages, King is on £7,500 per week according to Salary Sport – more than Hamza Igamane and Oscar Cortes – the technical director used an example from PSV Eindhoven of how things should run:
“Cody Gakpo at PSV is a good example. He was on a relatively low wage but knew, ‘If I can make the next step, I’ll get the financial benefit,’ said Koppen.
“It’s about changing that mindset, you don’t push players to leave, you push them to work hard and go for the next step by winning.
“If you give players comfort and high numbers, then they don’t have to play for that. That can create laziness.”
King might not be lazy, but there is little to suggest that he is going to be a first team regular, especially with the luck that he ‘enjoyed’ against USG.
