Rangers fans have been given positive news after it emerged that Kai Kennedy’s future at Ibrox might not be as cut and dried as it first seemed with Football Insider reporting that a new deal could yet be agreed to extend his stay beyond the summer.
The 18-year old forward had looked to be heading out the door after a less than favourable statement from Steven Gerrard implied that talent alone wouldn’t be enough to see him get game time in Light Blue.
The Gers gaffer said after rumours began to circulate that Kennedy’s contract talks had stalled:
“I want to bring academy players in.
“But first and foremost they’ve got to commit to the football club.
“They’ve got to be good enough, they’ve got to train every day like it means the world to them to play for Rangers.
“I’ve been hearing a few things down at the Academy that there’s been a bit of ego about so they won’t be around me.
“I’ll only play the players that show me on a daily basis that they’re good enough to be around us.
“Nathan Patterson, Jamie Barjonas and Lewis Mayo have shown that since the first day so they deserve the opportunities they’ve had and I’m pleased for them.”
Since being demoted to the “B” squad, Kennedy was given the chance to go out on loan to Inverness Caledonian Thistle and has shown that he can compete with senior players despite his diminutive stature.
He has drawn high praise from John Robertson after some eye catching performances, and it looks as though the opportunity to play first-team football has reminded him of how lucky he is to be at a club like Rangers.
Kennedy’s form suggests that he could provide an alternative option to Jordan Jones and Brandon Barker, with the bigger squad size and five subs meaning that when he returns to the club in January he could make the match day squad on a more regular basis for his parent club.
There is no doubt that the Scotland youth cap is hugely talented, that he has been linked with moves to some of Europe’s biggest clubs says it all, however, if he can see that there is a real pathway to the first team at Rangers, we could well save ourselves a fortune in the transfer market – fingers crossed Ross Wilson can work his magic once again and persuade him that his future lies at Ibrox.