With 55 secured, Steven Gerrard now has the chance to start putting some serious long-term plans in place added to the quality squad that he and Ross Wilson have already assembled.
Several youngsters got a chance to impress in the first pre-season fixture of 2021/22 against Partick Thistle and not one of them let the gaffer down, although one in particular may have gone under the radar for many.
Lewis Mayo spent last season on loan at Dunfermline Athletic and the towering 21-year old has caught the eye of former Ger, Alan Hutton, who has inside information on the Scotland youth cap’s potential future at the club, as reported by Football Insider:
“The young boys are in this squad for the manager to have a look at them.
“Does they go out on loan? Or does he want them to stay in the squad for the season? This is massive, a huge opportunity for the likes of Mayo.
“He’s trying to push his way into that first team. He played defensive midfielder but he’s a centre half so there’s that opportunity.
“Come into the first team, show us what you’ve got in a real situation. Then they’ll decide how you progress. It’s a huge opportunity.
“I know from people at Rangers Gerrard is an admirer of Lewis Mayo, he likes what he sees. It’s up to him to prove to him he’s ready to step up into the first team.”
As Hutton says, Mayo’s flexibility to play in the heart of defence, as a sitting midfielder or even right-back will stand him in good stead moving forwards, it, at least, shows that he is comfortable in possession – something that is a pre-requisite as a Rangers centre-half.
Physically there are no doubts that he can handle senior football but at 21, a decision will soon have to be made as to whether or not he has all the technical attributes to make it in Light Blue, if he shows more of what he demonstrated against Thistle, he might just have a chance.