Steven Gerrard has hinted at adding a couple of new faces in January but the Rangers gaffer could do a lot worse than looking closer to home for reinforcements.
Kai Kennedy and Stephen Kelly have been doing themselves no harm at all out on loan in the Highlands at Inverness Caledonian Thistle and Ross County respectively, showing that they can not only cope with the physicality of senior football but also show the sort of bravery in possession required to be a Rangers player.
The lack of a winter break and the volume of fixtures still to come would give the two Scotland youth caps the opportunity to get bedded into a team that is performing well, that Leon King and Ciaran Dickson stepped effortlessly into the side against Falkirk suggests that the two more experienced players would also have success.
With Jordan Jones skating on thin ice and Brandon Barker flattering to deceive, Kennedy should be given a chance to show that he is deserving of a place in Gerrard’s squad, with the extra substitutes allowed, Sunday’s game against Ross County is the perfect example of when youth players could be introduced, giving them valuable minutes to develop whilst resting first team regulars.
Kelly has shown that he could be trusted to play a similar role to Steven Davis, breaking up play and turning defence into attack with aggressive passing, being introduced to the team with the likes of Scott Arfield or Ryan Jack alongside to guide him would only help to bring him on further.
Kennedy’s loan expires in January with Kelly spending the whole season in Dingwall but you would expect there to be a recall clause of some sort, both players will be expected to contribute more in the next few years, getting them bled into a winning team could be vital in their progression to one day being key players in Light Blue.