OPINION
There is nothing that Rangers fans love more than to see a young talent brought through the ranks at Ibrox to establish themselves as a regular in the first team – apart from a win over Celtic of course.
The Gers are so proud of their tradition of growing and developing the stars of tomorrow and want nothing more than to see each and every one of their starlets break through to walk down the tunnel at Ibrox as part of the starting XI.
Of course, that is never going to be the case with everyone, but Falkirk boss Ray McKinnon is expecting great things from Ibrox teen Zak Rudden, who has been impressing on his short term loan spell at the Championship side.
Speaking to the Falkirk Herald after the youngster netted his second and third goals of the season in just his third outing, the manager said: “For an 18 year old to have the knack of scoring goals and being in the right place at the right time and as I keep saying his work mate is phenomenal – he is just going to get better and better.
“He has the right temperament and that is the right key to his success. His attitude is top-class and his willingness to work hard is top class and that’s why he’s scoring goals.
“In the next two or three years he will really improve, be that at Rangers or somewhere else – he can become a top, top player. I do (think he will make it at Rangers.)”
Rudden is on loan to the second tier outfit until January, and once 2019 comes around, Gerrard needs to be throwing the youngster into the deep end of the first team – and tearing up the contract of 6’3″ giant (source: Transfermarkt) Umar Sadiq, whose loan spell from Roma has been nothing short of an embarrassment..
The 18-year-old is in a lucky position where there are not too many hurdles in the form of competition for a centre forward’s role, with Alfredo Morelos and Kyle Lafferty very much the first choices, but behind the senior pair there is not a lot to choose from, 21-year-old Sadiq seemingly out of favour.
With the Nigerian hitman taking up room in the squad, Rudden has to take his place come January, and that means shipping the summer signing back to Italy.
Who would the fans rather see developing with the senior side – some loanee from Rome, or a homegrown talent who no doubt loves the club?
An easy question, and one which Gerrard needs to answer.