Ally McCoist has admitted he has been blown away by the progress Glenn Middleton has made this season, but believes that some people can be too quick to criticise the Rangers winger.
Middleton, 18, is enjoying a breakthrough season at Ibrox this term, earning 20 appearances across all competitions under the charge of Steven Gerrard before he was handed a start in the Gers’ 1-0 defeat to Rapid Vienna in Austria on Thursday night.
Rangers legend McCoist is delighted with the teenager’s development but admits that his inconsistent form is something that is bound to happen with a player of his age.
“The thing about Middleton that we sometimes forget is that he’s young and relatively inexperienced, so you’re going to get different levels of performance,” said McCoist during BT Sport 3’s live match coverage (06:41pm).
“Without doubt [he’s made massive progress].
“I sometimes feel that people are little too critical but you have to give an opinion.
“He does some excellent things as well, he’s really direct and he does get Rangers up the park.”
OPINION
Middleton really is a bright young talent and one of the best things that the club did last January was sign him from Norwich when Graeme Murty was manager. Since Gerrard has taken over at Ibrox, Middleton has understandably been a first team regularly and he has been vital in some of the club’s games this season, scoring five goals and supplying four assists. Jamie Murphy’s injury and the poor form of Eros Grezda has definitely helped Middleton play more football and he looks like a very bright prospect for not only the long-term future, but also the rest of this season. Rangers’ attack is definitely their strong point and Middleton is lucky to have Alfredo Morelos up front to play with in most of his appearances. Gerrard could find Middleton attracting interest soon enough, which would be a mark of how well he is doing, so hopefully he can stay at Ibrox for a long, long time.