Rangers youngster James Maxwell has heaped big praise on his teammate Nathan Patterson and he is working hard to emulate his breakthrough.
Having enjoyed a positive and productive loan spell at Queen of the South last season, Maxwell is likely to get a chance in and around first team training in the the coming pre-season camp.
Maxwell insists that he is a better player for his time in Dumfries and there is plenty of evidence to back that up.
He told Rangers official website:
“I’d gone to Queen of the South with the hope of playing lots of games and playing regularly and I really enjoyed my time there.”
“I showed people what I could do and all the staff and players were really good with me. Thanks to everyone at the club for making me feel so welcome.”
“I couldn’t really have asked for more from my first loan spell away from Rangers. I played over 30 games, scored five goals – and a few were on the television too which was good – and made some assists too so it was great exposure.”
“I didn’t think I would score as many as I did but it is always good to add to your goal tally.”
On the great example set by Patterson, the 19 year old stated:
“He is an inspiration to everyone at the Academy and we all want to follow in his footsteps.”
“The pathway is there as Nathan has shown and he has worked hard to get himself into that position. You need to be ready to take any opportunity you get and Nathan did that so well.”
“I am good pals with Nathan and I am delighted for him. It was good to see him playing in a Rangers jersey for the first team.”
“Now he is part of the Scotland squad for the Euros and I am so happy for him.”
“It will be a great experience for him and he has deserved it because he has done really well and won the league with Rangers.”
Patterson took full advantage of the injury to skipper James Tavernier and when the chance came along, he seized it.
Challenge
19-year old Maxwell knows too well the scale of the task ahead to dislodge Borna Barisic but that is what he is striving for:
“It’s a tough challenge to displace someone like Tav but it’s the same for all positions as you are probably up against an international player for a place.”
“It’s the same for me with Borna (Barisic) on the left – but you have to keep working hard and be ready to take your chance and Nathan certainly did that.”
🏴 Rangers Academy left-back James Maxwell says Nathan Patterson is an inspiration to every youth player at the club as he prepares to represent #SCO at @EURO2020.
👉 Read more from James as he spoke to @rfc_rydc: https://t.co/ukj2XLTHgl pic.twitter.com/nlKvRrGILr
— Rangers Youth Academy (@RFC_Youth) June 13, 2021
What happens next is very important for the fledgling left-back, whether at Ibrox or out on another loan experience – but James Maxwell knows that he has too work hard to succeed:
“I will come back to Rangers for pre-season training and see what happens now. I have trained with the first-team in the past and enjoyed the experience.”
“At Queen of the South I felt a proper part of the first-team and I would love to replicate that at Rangers.”
“Going out on loan was the next step in my journey and I made sure the Queens staff knew how much I appreciated the opportunity, it has given me a really solid foundation to go and crack on now.”
“I have another year left on my Rangers contract and I will give it my all and see where it takes me.”