With top flight Scottish football taking its annual break for winter, it’s a great chance for clubs to refresh their first teams not just with talents signed in the January transfer window, but with youth players breaking through from U20s sides.
Rangers manager Graeme Murty is in a unique position at Rangers, haven been in charge of the youth team at Rangers for a number of years before taking charge of the senior side until the end of the season. He knows better than anyone at the club which players can now make a push for a first team place at Ibrox having worked with them on a day-to-day basis.
If the Light Blues are ever going to challenge for major honours then it’ll be important to bring through emerging talents and not rely too much on expensive transfers.
Celtic have successfully brought through a number of homegrown talents in recent years, a blueprint for the success Rangers must try to follow.
These are THREE Rangers youngsters who have the best shot of regular first team action after the winter break…
Jamie Barjonas
Jamie Barjonas has followed in the footsteps of Ross McCrorie and David Bates recently, forcing himself into Graeme Murty’s plans after injuries and suspensions took their toll on established senior players.
The teenager was thrown into a tough match against Hibernian at Easter Road in December and held his own, helping his side to an important 2-1 victory, his first start of the season. That’s a sign he is ready for more regular action, possessing more talent than he managed to show even that night in Edinburgh.
He’s a classy player with the ball at his feet and now has to show the consistency to become a regular for Murty after his baptism of fire.
With cup matches against lower league opposition to come when competitive action returns and games against Partick Thistle and Ross County on the horizon, it’s a great chance for him to show he’s a midfielder that can be trusted.
Serge Atakayi
Of the Rangers youth players who have yet to make their comeptitive debut for Rangers, Serge Atakayi may be one of the most exciting, a firm fixture on the wing for the Light Blues’ U20s side.
The Finnish U19 international made the trip to Florida with the first team for their training camp and even started in a friendly against Brazilian outfit Atletico Mineiro this week.
That’s an important step in his integration into the Rangers first team and he can use that recent experience to push on in the second half of the season and prove he’s worth a shot in a more important match.
Daniel Candeias has been performing excellent on the right hand side all season, but back up is needed and Rangers should look to the likes of Atakayi before further investing in the transfer market.
Aidan Wilson
Aidan Wilson made his debut for Rangers back in May, starting against Aberdeen at Ibrox, but has so far failed to build on that appearance with more starts this season.
However, the 19-year-old defender is another who made the trip with the first team to Florida, getting game time against Atletico Mineiro.
After Ross McCrorie and David Bates have impressed in recent months, Graeme Murty should show no hesitation in also giving Wilson more game time when competitive action returns.
A Scotland U19 international, he too can become a reliable performer at the hearts of the Light Blues defence, with experienced players Bruno Alves and Fabio Cardoso so far failing to live up to expectations.