‘Got the physique’ – Exclusive: McLeish tips Gers teen sensation to make first-team impact
We’re delighted to welcome former Rangers manager Alex McLeish as our exclusive columnist. Each week he’ll be giving his views on the biggest talking points at Ibrox…
Alex McLeish has said that 16-year-old Leon King has the physique to play for the Gers first-team and apart from a few scary moments did well in his debut against Falkirk.
The young centre-back also made the bench for the last two Europa League games against Benfica and Standard Liege as Steven Gerrard looks to blood the future of the club.
McLeish said that Gerrard would have to pick and choose the games King plays in but that the youngster will be delighted to be part of the first-team set-up.
Talking exclusivley to Ibrox News McLeish said, “I think that Leon King will definitely be ready for certain games and you can pick and choose them.
“Whether Stevie would have the judgement after watching him last weekend to say ‘I am going to play him against Celtic’… I don’t think so.
“But it is a process for the kid and if he is getting that kind of lauding and confidence from his coaches, Garry McAllister, Stevie Gerrard, all the Rangers guys that have brought him through the system, then he is going into a good atmosphere. A very, very good atmosphere.
“He is young, he’s got the physique but he is still maturing. He’s not got all the answers yet but when he went into the team he has defended well.
“There were probably one or two scary moments, but he will have been delighted to get through it.”
King wasn’t the only youngster to make his debut in the League Cup game.
Midfielder Ciaran Dickson also made his first-team bow in further proof that while the first-team squad is strong, the future is bright too.
In other Rangers news, ‘Incredible’, ‘Superb’ – These Rangers fans react as footage emerges from Ibrox v Standard Liege