Rangers-linked Scott McKenna got a taste of the Champions League big time as FC Copenhagen were defeated by current holders Manchester City.
The Scotland international, 27, was making his debut with the Danish outfit following a January loan move from Premier League club Nottingham Forest.
Scott McKenna had been linked with a move to Rangers and Celtic after being banished from training at the City Ground club alongside Besiktas-bound Joe Worrall.
And the centre-back got a rude awakening into life at the top level and was given a torrid time by Manchester City forward Erling Haaland and Belgian maestro Kevin de Bruyne in a 3-1 defeat in Copenhagen.
Scott McKenna makes Copenhagen debut v Man City
It’s not every club for which you make you debut in the Champions League knockouts but that was precisely the case for Scott McKenna at Copenhagen.
But whilst the defender did manage to stop Erling Haaland get on the scoresheet, McKenna was powerless to resist in what proved a Kevin de Bruyne masterclass.
The Belgian playmaker scored the first and assisted the other two goals as Bernardo Silva and Phil Foden cancelled out an equaliser from fellow Copenhagen debutant Magnus Mattsson.
Scott McKenna might have easier days in the white of Copenhagen and will look forward to the return leg at the Etihad next month.
But in the meantime perhaps Rangers had one eye on the Scotland star, who is out of contract at Nottingham Forest come the end of the season.
Rangers linked to Premier League defender move
The Champions League appearance adds to Scott McKenna’s not inconsiderable pedigree in the game and we’d be surprised if Rangers weren’t monitoring this situation.
After all, the former Aberdeen centre-back has 33 caps for the Scotland national team, is a homegrown player, and is a £6m defender available for nothing in the summer.
Rangers could see some upheaval in the position come Philippe Clement’s second transfer window too, with Leon Balogun out of contract and doubts surrounding the longevity of Ben Davies’s Ibrox career.
There might just be one major hurdle to clear at Ibrox however.
With Old Firm rivals Celtic mentioned as suitors, it appears the defender’s loyalties lie on the other side of the city.
