Rangers have made a commitment to bleeding more youngsters as Philippe Clement looks to provide fresh energy in the Ibrox squad.
The Gers’ flailing player trading model has made plenty of headlines recently, with the club’s revamped approach to transfers and the Ibrox academy setting about changing things.
With Philipp Clement promising to bleed more youngsters at Rangers, there are three in the club’s squad who we’re tipping for increased exposure this season.
Bailey Rice
What must Rangers midfielder Bailey Rice have thought when Lennon Miller reached his 50th appearance at Motherwell.
The two were midfield partners in the Motherwell academy with Rice opting to move to Ibrox when he signed his first professional deal in the summer of 2022.
But as Miller has rapidly begun to develop, Bailey Rice continues to find first-team opportunities elusive at Ibrox.
Having made three appearances for the Gers top team, former manager Michael Beale and current boss Philippe Clement appear to disagree about Rice’s situation at Rangers.
Whilst Beale insisted ‘heck of a player’ Rice was ‘ready’ to play for Rangers at 16-years-old, Clement insists the midfielder has to improve without the ball.
Whatever the case, the 18-year-old is one of the most highly-rated prospects at Rangers and we suspect more minutes will be forthcoming this season.
Robbie Fraser
Robbie Fraser is one of Philippe Clement’s boys.
The Ibrox left-back was handed a number of opportunities under the Belgian manager last season and finds himself on the periphery of the first-team squad this campaign.
Whilst Clement shirked an opportunity to start Fraser against Malmo in Sweden, the left-back was handed a new contract by the Belgian last season.
Rangers have increased competition at left-back but Robbie Fraser continues to develop at the club and is a part of Clement’s plans.
The defender might have to depose form Brazilian left-back Jefte or the returning Ridvan Yilmaz, but there will be opportunities for the 21-year-old as the season progresses.
Cole McKinnon
Cole McKinnon briefly came into the Rangers team at a crucial juncture of last season.
Enjoying exposure in the Europa League last 16 clash with Benfica, it was a big game for McKinnon to step into and since then the 21-year-old finds himself in and out of the squad.
Another who has been given public backing by Philippe Clement, McKinnon has spent time out on loan at Partick Thistle and first made his debut at Rangers at the end of the 21/22 season.
There is big competition for the attacking midfielder to overcome to break into the Rangers team but there is still time, and hope, for McKinnon to do so.
We suspect that opportunities will come later in the season and the midfielder will have to take them if he’s serious about making a long-term impact at Ibrox.
