Professional football is a ruthless business and making it at any level is hard work, never mind at Rangers.
A quick look at the list of players who are currently unattached shows former Ibrox regulars Brandon Barker and Ryan Kent still looking for new clubs despite graduating from Man City and Liverpool’s youth setups respectively.
To make it from Rangers academy is as tough as it comes where it takes more than technical ability to become a regular in the first team squad.
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Steven Smith on what it takes to make Rangers breakthrough
Someone who made the breakthrough as a teenager only to see injury derail his career is Steven Smith.
Once rated higher than Alan Hutton, who was once upon a time Rangers record transfer sale, the Gers Under-18s coach has been speaking to the RYDC about what it takes to make the grade:
“So much work goes in to developing players down the age groups but when you see one making the first team, for me, it’s then about who is next,’ said Smith.
“You want players to go round there and stay there. That’s the hard bit. Playing 5 or 10 games is easy but who is going to go round and play 100, 150 and 200 games.
“That’s what the aim is here every single day. Who is next.
“I do believe there is loads of talent in the academy and hopefully they get the wee bit of luck they need and develop the mentality to succeed.
“It’s about mentality from the under 18s to the B Team and who has it to stick it out and push other players out the way.”
Who in Rangers academy should heed Smith’s advice?
The best example in recent years is Nathan Patterson.
The Scotland international was never the most technically gifted of his age group, however, he was athletic, and few players worked harder.
When Steven Gerrard gave him a chance, there was no sign of nerves, he just attacked every game in the same manner that he did at youth team level.
Compare and contrast with Alex Lowry who has long been considered one of Auchenhowie’s most gifted products only to barely make an impact on the senior squad, never mind the starting XI.
He has had his injury and personal problems, but there seems to be an underlying mentality issue preventing him from taking the next step.
As Smith said, players don’t make it by only having a handful of appearances to their name, they make it when they stay in the first team – just as he did.
