SFA Sporting Director Malky Mackay has heaped praise on y0ung Rangers dup Glenn Middleton and Dapo Mebude, suggesting that he expects big things from the talented pair.
Mackay was speaking after a clip of Scotland’s U19 side went viral this week for playing a slick brand of possession based football against their Spanish counterparts.
Chelsea midfielder Billy Gilmour has received plenty of praise for his role in the squad, but Mackay was also quick to hail the Rangers youngsters too.
As quoted in the Scottish Sun, he said: “Billy is a big talent but he is one of many at various levels that we want to push forward.
“Glenn Middleton at Rangers and Lewis Hornby from Everton are two others that immediately come to mind.
“Dapo Mebude from Rangers is another one but there are so many who are progressing.”
OPINION
These are exciting times for Scottish international football, with many of the country’s youth sides finding themselves in rude health. Middleton and Mebude both look as if they could be the real deal, with the former in particular already establishing himself as a key component of Steven Gerrard’s plans at Ibrox. Gerrard’s willingness to put his faith in youth could prove to be a great thing, bot just for the national team, but for the Gers as well. The ex-Liverpool man is clearly a great believer that if you’re good enough you’re old enough, and that kind of progressive thinking can unearth some real gems. Only time will tell if Middleton and Mebude are good enough to make it at the very top level, but the early signs are very promising, and there are few clubs in Scotland where their development would be better managed than it will be at Rangers under Gerrard’s tutelage.