Rangers’ comfortable 4-0 victory over St. Joseph’s in the first leg of Europa League QR1 sets next week’s tie at Ibrox up very nicely.
With a considerable cushion going into the match, it could give certain fringe and youth players the chance to experience a raucous Ibrox on a European-night.
And there’s one in particular who Rangers should be looking to give a run-out next week.
Josh McPake is a name we’re hearing about more-and-more recently.
The club’s Academy Player of the Year impressed with the development side last season and even got 15 minutes with the first-team at Ibrox in the 5-0 friendly win against Oxford.
Whilst it might not start the return leg against St. Joseph’s, it’s a superb chance to introduce him to a full house at Ibrox.
St. Joseph’s are also a side which we should be routinely dispatching and McPake will get a chance to flourish.
He might only be 17, but his recent involvement with the first team suggests Steven Gerrard sees McPake as part of the group this season.
His solid form last season was also said to have attracted the likes of AS Roma and Liverpool to his services [Daily Record] with his contract at Ibrox expiring.
Thankfully, Rangers appear to have won the race for his signature and will reportedly tie the talented attacker down on a three-year deal [the Herald].
As part of that, there will be the promise of progression into the first team and the chance to break through this season.
Could there be a better stage for Josh McPake to make his competitive introduction than at a packed Ibrox on a European night?
