A few Rangers youngsters look set to keep getting chances between now and the end of the season.
The likes of Bailey Rice, Findlay Curtis, Clinton Nsiala have been in and around the first team recently and have shown up well when given the chance.
There has been a clamour from fans to see more of the club’s young talent in Philippe Clement’s side and many are excited by what the likes of Rice and Curtis can do.
Clement looks committed to giving them an opportunity when they have but is adamant that it must be earned.
He explained what Rice needs to do to become a Gers mainstay – namely improve his game out of possession having been “non-existent” in that department.
While the manager was “delighted” to get Curtis on a new three-year contract at the club.
While Nsiala has been assured in his performances in the backline with John Souttar the latest to dish out praise to his young teammate.
The trio and other youngsters could be involved against Queens Park in the Scottish Cup at Gers’ home today and it would seem the perfect opportunity to do that.
Clement vows not to play “too many” Rangers youngsters
However, Clement isn’t prepared to flood his team full of youngsters having been stung in the past.
The Rangers boss is fully aware of the dangers of doing so after his Monaco side were knocked out of the cup by lower league outfit Rodez.
Previewing the game in his pre-match press conference, he said: “My memory of that match is I put too many young guys in to give them a chance.
“The experienced players in the team didn’t perform as they should have done to help the younger guys.
“On that day, the other team was 100 per cent efficient and had the day of their lives.
“So I know that cup games can always present something dangerous. You need to balance things really well.
“It happened to me once, so I don’t think of it as a warning for our game on Sunday.”
Clement aware of Queen’s Park threat
Clement knows Queen’s Park can pose his side a threat and has prepared for the game in the exact same way as he did for Manchester United and Tottenham.
And while he won’t play “too many” young players, some will get the chance to shine.
He added: “I had a lot of cup games that went a different way, both with Monaco and other teams. But it’s something that can happen every season in every league.
“We’re very ambitious for this game, and we fully respect Queen’s Park.
“We will have the same preparation that we had against Manchester United or Tottenham.
“I don’t say we won’t play younger players against Queen’s Park, because it’s part of the story that we need to give chances to young players to develop.
“If I don’t give them minutes, they can’t develop. It will be a mix, so they are surrounded by players with experience.”
