There is increasing pressure on the Rangers academy to deliver as the Ibrox club look to give youth a chance.
Over the years Rangers fans have grown frustrated with the academy, suggesting that there have not been enough genuine success stories coming out of Auchenhowie.
Nathan Patterson is the stand-out but others who have been afforded opportunities such as Alex Lowry, Leon King and Adam Devine have fallen by the wayside.
But perhaps Rangers have to look inward and how they’re handling these young guys with one of the club’s brightest graduates now being eyed in the Premier League.
Ross McCrorie makes post-Rangers progress
Ross McCrorie broke through at Rangers as a teenager and was tipped for the very top at Ibrox.
A right-sided defender who was also comfortable enough on the ball to play in midfield, McCrorie was a full-bloodied and fully committed option on the fringe of the Ibrox squad.
But a lack of opportunities at Rangers meant McCrorie was moved on to Aberdeen in the summer of 2020 and eventually made the deal permanent six months later.
Rangers had initially signed a £350k loan-to-buy deal with the Dons but the move was brought forward so the Gers could complete a £175k swoop for Aberdeen winger Scott Wright six months early.
After finding his feet at Pittodrie, it didn’t take long for Ross McCrorie to earn a £3m move to Bristol City and it’s at Ashton Gate where the versatile Scotland star is turning heads.
Premier League eyes impressed with Ross McCrorie
Now a part of Steve Clarke’s Scotland plans, McCrorie has emerged as one of the English Championship’s most effective right-sided defenders.
That’s not been lost on the likes of Crystal Palace, with the Daily Record claiming the Premier League outfit have taken a fancy to the 26-year-old.
It’s not without good reason either; McCrorie stands out in the top percentile for a range of defensive stats in the English Championship this season.
The reports come at a challenging time for the defender in that McCrorie is currently sidelined with a hamstring injury but the transfer links are with a view to the summer.
If Ross McCrorie is to move to Crystal Palace, it’ll have Rangers fans asking why the defender wasn’t allowed to progress at Ibrox.
