Steven Gerrard had two choices when it came to recruiting players to improve his Rangers options.
The first was to use young, hungry players with the talent to be a success in Scottish football – or potentially a higher level in future – but who hadn’t yet proved it at all.
The second was to recruit experience – such as Scott Arfield – but the risk is that the player’s best years is behind them.
In Ryan Kent and Ovie Ejaria, Gerrard used his Liverpool connections to secure two hotly-tipped youngsters, but also two players who are yet to really achieve anything of note in the game.
His job is to mould them into effective team players who can contribute to a club with big pressure and expectations, and their league debuts provided a promising glimpse into the future.
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After Alfredo Morelos’ moment of madness left Rangers playing for 78 minutes – plus stoppage time – with ten men and the Gers were desperate for energy in the closing stages of the game and that is exactly what Kent and Ejaria provided.
That provided a snapshot of what the duo can provide this season. If Gerrard can tap into their hunger to prove themselves and educate them about what is needed to last the pace of a long season, the pair can make a major contribution.
The pair have as much talent as anybody at Ibrox right now. If they can show it, Gerrard will have secured two hugely exciting signings.