Rangers fans would have expected a few changes against Queen of the South on Tuesday night but I’m not sure if most of them would have predicted an entirely new 11 and so many academy youngsters making their debuts.
One B team player who has been seen before is Charlie McCann who continues to impress, a back heel assist for Scott Arfield doing little to calm claims that he should be getting more minutes in the first team.
Speaking after the 3-1 win, the Northern Ireland international said, as reported by The Scotsman:
“For all the B team lads and the (under) 18 lads it just shows them there is a clear pathway to the first team and the boss will give us opportunities. I think that is definitely the message.
“So it is obviously a really positive thing to be a young player at this club at the moment. If we get our opportunities and do well then hopefully we get more and that’s definitely what I am striving for anyway.
“It is obviously a positive thing to be able to go out there at Ibrox and get a kick of the ball. It was a good opportunity for the boss to give a run out to people who haven’t had the minutes.
“To get the win and get through to the next round is the main objective. We probably made it a little bit tighter than we needed to but we got through and that’s all that matters.”
Fans can’t have it both ways.
We can’t go out and sign backups to sit in the stand whilst, at the same time, moan about young players not being given a chance. There is no way that Steven Gerrard would have made as many changes and given the likes of Connor Goldson or James Tavernier the night off for example.
Alex Lowry and Leon King are first-team players and McCann is probably the next in line to make the move permanent having been in and around the squad for some time, he will also be aware that Steven Davis, Scott Arfield and Ryan Jack aren’t getting any younger and that the pathway could be even clearer for him next season.