Midfielder Jack Thomson has revealed he is open to leaving Rangers on loan in January in order to move closer to a breakthrough at Ibrox.
Thomson has made a big impression for the club’s Under-20s and is now regularly training with the first team after being promoted by Steven Gerrard.
But the 18-year-old Ibrox academy product admitted that he is open to heading out on loan in the winter window to aid his prospects of first-team football.
“That is definitely something that is a possibility for me in the second half of the season and I will look at maybe going out on loan and playing at a different club to get first team experience”, Thomson told the Glasgow Evening Times.
“I am not too concerned where that is, as long as I am happy and I am progressing, that is what matters the most.
“It can go either way for you, a loan move. You can go and be excited for it and then not play and end up a bit down or you can go and get valuable first team experience.
“That is obviously what I want to do and hopefully it works out if I do go out.”
OPINION
As Thomson points out, a loan move is by no means a pathway to the big time. Often, loanees find it difficult to climb the ranks at their temporary employers and return to their parent club frustrated and bereft of confidence. That does not mean Thomson should not head out of Ibrox as soon as the new year is rung in. He should. There is only so much a player can learn from youth-team football, where they do not face experienced and grizzled campaigners who know all the tricks of the trade. Thomson was handed a three-year contract by Rangers last year and is progressing well after some injury troubles. But he could tread water if he remains on the fringes of the senior squad. His best chance to really convince Gerrard and his coaching staff would be to thrive while out on loan and get some vital first-team experience under his belt. A temporary spell away could be the making of him.