Rangers still have problems in building a team capable of challenging successfully for the Scottish Premiership title and of consistently beating Celtic.
Philippe Clement still faces an uphill battle to convince Gers fans that he is the right manager for the job and now he has a five point gap to close after just four league games.
One of the long term aspects of Rangers player training model is to develop their own talent but what does the future hold for five who came through the B team and academy together?
Leon King
At one time or another has been a target for most of England’s top teams including Chelsea and Liverpool.
Last season saw him spend more time for club and Scotland Under-21’s in midfield in a defensive role as Rangers look to get the best out of one of the academy’s shining lights.
Capable of playing at centre-half and at full-back too, there is no shame if King spends an extended period of time at the club as a utility player who can cover during a crisis.
It might not be how his early talent promised his career would go, but every Rangers fan would swap places with him in a heartbeat.
Robbie Fraser
Clement seems to have a soft spot for the young left-back who achieved a lifelong dream by making his Rangers debut last season.
The former B team skipper has shown the dedication and desire to force his way into the manager’s plans and made the most of the opportunity that injury presented him with.
He’s gone from looking like he was leaving the club he loves to becoming a more than reliable understudy.
Fraser still has a lot to learn but there is no reason why he can’t spend a long time at Rangers.
Cole McKinnon
Another academy player who Clement picks for his matchday squad regularly.
McKinnon is almost a throwback midfielder in terms of his work rate and box to box style.
He has all the effort in the world but would have more chance of regular game time if he was a specialist defensive midfielder, although he has been learning a new trade in training.
With Bailey Rice coming through the ranks, McKinnon’s time at Rangers might be limited.
Ross McCausland
This time last year, the Northern Ireland winger probably thought it was his last year at Rangers.
As with Fraser though, injury saw him given a chance to impress.
Similar to McKinnon, there are no questions about attitude or work rate, however, his decision making, final ball and finishing are still some way off the levels required for a winger playing over 30 games a season for Rangers.
Not every academy player or squad player has to be a world beater though and McCausland remains a better option than signing someone like Eros Grezda or Brandon Barker.
Alex Lowry
Too good for youth and B team football, but something is missing from his game to make the step up and fulfil his obvious technical ability.
When he first broke into the first team under Giovanni van Bronckhorst, he loooked every part the player who had been linked with a move to Man City.
He is a composed finisher, has a wonderful passing range, takes a free-kick to challenge James Tavernier and is potentially an even better penalty taker.
Lowry has had a difficult couple of years on and off the park, he needs games but the club and league need to be the right fit.
His short term goal should be to work hard enough to catch Philippe Clement’s eye and at least spend time on the bench rather than in the stands.
They are all talented players but the step up to becoming a regular for Rangers is a big one to take, the Auchenhowie conveyor belt moves slowly, that doesn’t mean that players who can save the club money should be jettisoned though, just because they aren’t Barry Ferguson.
