Consider this a show of faith from Philippe Clement in one of the players who could yet become a load-bearing pillar in the next stage of the Rangers rebuild.
After Clement introduced Zak Lovelace and Paul Nsio off the bench against Union Saint Gilloise on Thursday night, after Findlay Curtis was rewarded with a new contract at Ibrox, the 4-0 thrashing of Ross County appeared to represent major step forward in the young career of another fresh-faced Rangers starlet.
Replacing Mohamed Diomande at half-time, Bailey Rice made his first Scottish Premiership appearance of 2024/25.
And, with his previous three outings in the league totalling a combined 17 minutes, that Rice was handed the entirety of the second 45 highlighted Clement’s ever-growing faith in the stylish 18-year-old midfielder.
They say actions speak louder than words.
Yet, both from the dugout and in his post-match press conference, Clement both spoke and acted like a man who feels Bailey Rice has a huge future ahead of himself at Rangers.
The manager also confirms that a desire to accelerate the teenager’s progress into a senior player was a big factor why Rangers let Kieran Dowell join Birmingham City on loan last week.
Philippe Clement admits Bailey Rice encouraged Rangers to move Kieran Dowell on
“[Rice’s emergence as a first-team option] is the reason that we let Kieran Dowell go on loan, to make space also for Bailey,” Clement explains. “And that’s what we are doing in the club now.
“To see who are the young guys who develop, who are close to competing with the others and [who deserves to be given] chances. And then it’s the test to see if they manage or not.
“It’s never one test, of course. It’s the next six months to build the squad again for next season.”
While Zak Lovelace looks set to secure a return to Millwall – the talented winger has been offered a new deal but seems likely to reject it in favour of a London homecoming – Clement is clearly laying the foundations for Rice to follow in the footsteps of fellow rising stars Jefte, Hamza Igamane and Clinton Nsiala with more minutes likely to come his way over the coming months.
The Belgian believes that Rice, who came close to a first senior goal when his sweeping left-footed strike from the edge of the box was palmed aside by Ross County ‘keeper Jordan Amissah, has come on leaps and bounds since he replaced Mick Beale in late-2023.
Clement highlights Rice’s improvement after Ross County win
“Bailey is taking really good steps forward,” Clement adds. “He’s improving a lot, he was always a good player last year also when I came in. He was a good player on the ball, but he was non-existent for me.
“He was walking around those moments in the youth team. So, he took a lot of steps. You see also physically that he’s developing really well. He’s only 18 but, like I said last week, if [the young players] show things in the training, I will put them in.
“I don’t care about the age. If I see the quality, I will give them chances if they prove in training and in the games that they deserve it. But we make place also in the squad to give more opportunities for Bailey.”
This was the second time in a matter of weeks in which Clement introduced the Auchenhowie graduate at the interval.
Bailey Rice impressed Manchester United icon Rio Ferdinand at Old Trafford, while fellow midfielder Connor Barron labelled the Rangers kid ‘brilliant’ following another eye-catching cameo off the bench against Fraserburgh in that 5-0 Scottish Cup win.
