All eyes were on Oscar Cortes when Steven Smith’s Rangers kids took on Crystal Palace on Monday afternoon.
Over a week after interim boss Barry Ferguson confirmed Oscar Cortes’ return to the training pitch, the Colombia international stepped up his recovery from another lengthy, injury-enforced absence as Rangers’ B team saw off their English opponents in a hard-fought 1-0 win.
Before his sacking, Philippe Clement insisted Rangers still wanted to buy Cortes permanently. There is a £4 million purchase clause in the RC Lens-owned winger’s contract.
But, with only two months of the season remaining, he is running out to time to make his mark.
The closest Oscar Cortes came, as Smith’s side hosted Crystal Palace at the Rangers Training Centre, was a shot which whistled wide of the post.
Yet, on an afternoon in which Rafael Fernandes also featured, the Rangers youth coach was more than happy with how his team gelled on the day, a number of first-teamers dropping down to aid the club’s next generation.
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Oscar Cortes, Ross McCausland and Rafael Fernandes get minutes for Rangers B
“There was a good balance in the team in terms of first-team players coming back and getting minutes for the first 60 minutes, then the young players coming on and getting to experience how tough the game was for the last 30 minutes,” Smith smiles.
“Overall, it was a very pleasing 90 minutes.
“The plan was clear in that the manager wanted certain players to play 60 minutes with an eye on Thursday night.”
Alongside Cortes, Ross McCausland and the excellent Bailey Rice – he struck the crossbar with a sumptuous free-kick – were brought off on the hour with an eye on Thursday’s Europa League last-16 second-leg tie with Fenerbahce.
It was two of the youngest members of Smith’s side who combined to score the only goal of the game in the second-half, meanwhile. 16-year-old Alexander Smith burst in behind to set up 17-year-old Calum Adamson for a close-range tap-in.
Smith was also happy to see goalkeeper Rydnn McGuire, defender Connor Campbell and attacker Chris Eadie [16, 17 and 17 respectively] hold their own against one of the most prosperous academies in English football.
Steven Smith hails Rangers kids as Alexander Smith and Calum Adamson combine
“For Rydnn, Connor and Chris Eadie upfront, it was a good challenge for them. I thought they handled it really well,” Smith adds. The game did bring certain moments where it’s tough for them, but that’s what these games are for.
“I thought they performed slightly better in the second half. We learned from the moments in the first half and took them into the second half.”
“One thing you need to bring as a young player is energy. The first-team staff are watching and you’re ultimately trying to replace first-team squad players. You need to bring personality. I know they have it, but it’s different me knowing it than going and showing it to everyone else.
“I’m really happy with how they handled the last 30 minutes.
“It was a moment of composure from Alexander Smith when he gets into the final third and he decides to cut it back rather than going for goal.
“He has that quality, and Calum Adamson brings energy and breaks into the penalty box to tap it in. It was really intelligent play from Alexander in the final third.”
