Rangers youngster Rhys Breen has sealed a loan transfer to Queen of the South after being recalled from a stint at Partick Thistle [qosfc.com].
Breen and fellow Academy prospect Kieran Wright joined Thistle in August as the pair headed out to gain experience in SPFL League One.
Wright has performed impressively at Firhill and is set to remain there until the end of the season, but after making just six Jags appearances, Breen is jumping up a division.
The 21-year-old centre-back’s move to Palmerston Park was confirmed on Thursday afternoon and he will go straight into Allan Johnston’s squad for the Scottish Cup tie at Queen’s Park on Friday night.
“We would like to thank Rangers for allowing Rhys to join us on loan,” said Johnston [qosfc.com]. “It is no secret that with only four recognised defenders in the squad, it was an area that we wanted to strengthen when the transfer window opened to give us more competition.”
“Rhys is still young but is highly thought of and is recognised as a player with a big future in the game.”
Breen was an ever-present in the Rangers Colts side that reached the semi-finals of last season’s Challenge Cup, while he also appeared in all of the Gers U20s’ UEFA Youth League fixtures.
The jump up a division will really challenge a player who is still finding his feet in the senior game and who missed a chunk of matches during his time at Thistle due to injury.
However, it’s a big opportunity to show loan manager Billy Kirkwood and the coaching staff at Rangers that he can handle a higher standard of football.
He’s not the only promising young Ibrox centre-back currently plying his trade in the Championship, though, with a 20-year-old Ger labelled ‘outstanding’ by a second-tier boss.
