Considering the state of Rangers’ central defensive options at present, Leon King could have been forgiven for wondering if the sacking of Philippe Clement would be something of a turning point for him.
Just two years prior, the Auchenhowie graduate appeared to be the next in line to blossom from Rangers’ academy stand-out to first-team regular.
Leon King played 23 times that season under Giovanni van Bronckhorst and Mick Beale, even featuring in all six of the club’s Champions League group-stage outings.
Flash forward to February 2025, however, and clearly Clement did not share the same belief his predecessors did. The Scotland Under-21 international went from 23 Rangers appearances to just six in 2023/24.
Before moving on loan to Scottish Cup conquerers Queen’s Park over the weekend, meanwhile, King had played a grand total of 21 league minutes across two cameo appearances off the bench.
According to reports, interim boss Barry Ferguson green-lit Leon King’s switch to Queen’s Park.
Sandwiched between two error-strewn performances – Robin Propper ‘miles off it’ against Kilmarnock and Motherwell, James Tavernier started at centre-back on Saturday with Clinton Nsiala dropped completely – King’s departure ensured that those hoping for a fresh start to be given to the talented 21-year-old would be left disappointed.
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Leon King joins Queen’s Park on loan after losing his spot at Rangers
With Propper and Nsiala badly out of form, with Dujon Sterling, John Souttar and Leon Balogun enduring spells on the sidelines and Lille loanee Rafael Fernandes yet to make any semblance of an impact, was there really no place in Ferguson’s plans for Leon King?
A player who earned Jurgen Klopp’s praise as an 18-year-old coming up against his fearsome Liverpool frontline on the biggest of European stages?
King made his Queen’s Park debut, meanwhile, at the same time as his parent club were losing to Motherwell. A third successive Ibrox defeat, and a run started by King’s new employers.
He played the final quarter of an hour off the bench as Callum Davidson’s side cruised to a 4-0 win at Raith Rovers. A result which keeps their hopes of a promotion play-off spot alive, the gap between Queen’s Park and Partick Thistle now five points but the former side have one game in hand.
King could make his first start when Queen’s Park host Ayr on Tuesday night.
Interestingly, former St Johnstone boss Davidson indicates that he plans to use King not as a central defender – where he has made the majority of his appearances for Rangers’ first-team – but as a central midfielder instead.
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Callum Davidson plans to use Leon King as a midfielder
“Leon King, I brought him in probably predominantly as a midfielder for me,” Davidson explains.
“He can give us that industry. Those kind of defensive qualities you need when the pitches start to deteriorate a little bit.”
Now, a midfield role is hardly unfamiliar, even if he never featured in such a position for Rangers’ senior side.
Leon King played regularly as a midfielder for Rangers B team and started out there for Scotland’s Under-21 side too. While there are question marks over his physicality in defence, King does possess a good passing range, impressive reading of the game, and the athleticism required in a more advanced position.
Something Davidson has clearly noticed.
