Ex-Rangers full-back Alan Hutton has revealed how highly Steven Gerrard must think of starlet Kai Kennedy after the youngster was the “19th man” for the matchday squad in the 3-1 win against Hamilton.
Speaking to Football Insider, Hutton also speaks of his desire to see more academy prospects breaking into the first-team squad.
So what did Hutton say?
When he was asked if he thought that Kennedy could pull on the Light Blue jersey for the senior team this season, Hutton replied:
“I hope so. I’m a supporter as well, that’s what I want Rangers to be like, you want the kids to come through”.
“He’s obviously doing very well, for it to be such a serious time of the season, for Gerrard to be even thinking to bring him into the squad, that just shows you how much belief he’s got in him. He wouldn’t make that decision lightly. He obviously thinks highly of him”.
“It’s a big time, I think Rangers need the boys coming through – it’s great for the club, it’s great for the supporters, you love to see it, the young boys coming through. Hopefully, they can start getting involved more regularly”.
“There’s a lot of games coming up and I’m not sure this is the ideal time to bleed them in but hopefully come the turn of the year they can break into the first-team”.
So is Hutton correct?
Absolutely, for Kennedy – linked with Roma in the summer – to be considered before Jamie Murphy, Brandon Barker and Jordan Jones (despite varying levels of fitness) is testament not only to his form for the academy and colt sides but also his effort levels in training. SFA performance director, Malky Mackay, has also predicted a bright future for the forward.
The diminutive Kennedy has performed well against experienced professionals in the Challenge Cup and against his peers for the academy in the UEFA Youth League, capable of playing on both flanks, he is quick, skilful and has a tremendous work-rate for an attack minded player.
Again, Hutton is correct when he says how important it is for Rangers to have players coming through, not only does this help financially in terms of saving on transfer fees if they make the first team, but it can also be used as a way to generate income. A player might not be good enough for Rangers but that doesn’t mean that they don’t have the potential to go on and have a good career.
The Ibrox club has a congested fixture list dominated with away games and Hutton has a point that it may not be the right time to throw the youngsters in, however, as the saying goes, “if they’re good enough, they’re old enough”.
Will Kai Kennedy make a first team appearance this season?
Yes
No
Gerrard showed last season with Glenn Middleton that he is quite happy to pitch youngsters in on the big occasion, if they have shown that they can impress him and have the mental toughness to cope with the weight of the famous blue shirt.