There was little to write home about during Rangers defeat to Union Berlin but one positive was the performance of Leon King.
The 20-year old has hardly be seen this season but was assured in an unfamiliar right-back role as Philippe Clement tinkered with his squad ahead of Copenhagen’s visit to Ibrox on Tuesday.
Rangers know that they have a talented youngster in Leon King but with games limited in the middle of defence and defensive midfield, right-back coud be an option in the long-term.
Rangers position shift for Leon King makes sense long-term
James Tavernier isn’t getting any younger.
He will be 33 going into next season and there needs to be a plan of how to replace him.
Trying to find a like-for-like is almost pointless though because right-backs who score as many goals and create as many chances as the skipper are rare, even at the very highest level of the game.
So, what the Gers boss has to do alongside Nils Koppen is find someone who can be developed and who they can trust to deputise.
Leon King can be that player for Rangers.
There is a reason clubs like Liverpool and Chelsea were chasing him as a teenager.
The Scotland Under-21 international had a tough baptism when he was only 18, having to start Champions League games against some of the finest forwards on the continent.
Not only that, but James Sands was his partner.
King might not be strong enough in the air to be a centre-half for Rangers but he can hold his own against most wingers.
Given his debut by Steven Gerrard at 16 at right-back, his qualities suggest that his future lies away from the middle of defence.
Comfortable on the ball and in one-v-one situations, the academy product also has the necessary athleticism to support the attack.
In terms of profile, think more Sasa Papac than Alan Hutton in terms of style.
Rangers will one day have to play without James Tavernier and they will need to start looking after the captain’s joints, as Leon King has shown in the past and against Hertha Berlin, he could be the man to one day step into the biggest shoes.
Just don’t expect him to score 20 goals a season.
