The current crop of Rangers stars coming through the Auchenhowie academy are as bright as they have ever been, some have trained with the club since they were kids, and others have arrived from further afield more recently.
Making the transition from being a promising youngster to a consistent senior professional is not an easy one though and over the last few years, we have seen players who many thought were going to make the grade fail to have the impact that was expected of them when they were sent out on loan to get valuable game time.
Both Josh McPake and Kai Kennedy fall into this category and having tasted first-team action under Steven Gerrard they are now in Scotland’s second and third tiers respectively, looking to other persuade Michael Beale that they deserve another chance at their parent club or to attract the attention of other clubs who might want to secure their services.
Aye Brazil were decent… but what about Kai Kennedy? 🚀 pic.twitter.com/ID5JdiyW8C
— The Rangers Review (@RangersReview55) December 5, 2022
If they continue to produce moments as they did at the weekend then they shouldn’t have any bother. McPake scored a wonderful individual effort and Kennedy – who was once the subject of a failed £1million bid from West Ham United – finally showed the sort of composure in front of goal for Falkirk that he used to for the academy team.
👏👏 @queensparkfc pic.twitter.com/lSn5BWxBAW
— Josh McPake (@joshmcpake) December 4, 2022
Consistency for both players when they have been out on loan has been an issue in terms of producing the sort of numbers that they would need to suggest that they have a future at Rangers though, their respective talents have never really been questioned, whether or not talent alone will be enough to see them offered new deals is another matter.
What doesn’t help their cause is Alex Lowry, a player younger than them who is already a regular in first-team training and has taken every opportunity that he has been given. That he won’t be heading out on loan tells you everything you need to know about how highly the Rangers coaching team rate him – and that if you are good enough, you are old enough.
A question still hanging over the heads of both McPake and Kennedy.