Despite not making it onto the bench, Kai Kennedy made the trip to Hamilton with Rangers. Steven Gerrard named the youngster his 19th man, meaning he would have been called upon should any member of the 18 man squad receive a last-minute injury (Daily Record).
And while he wasn’t granted the opportunity to actually play for the first-team, the inclusion of the 17-year-old is a huge sign of trust in youth from Gerrard. The manager praised the winger, claiming that he is a prime example of what he is looking for in young talent.
“I was thinking about putting him in the 18. All of our lads at the academy should take note of what he’s done this week. I think he’s been outstanding,” said Gerrard about Kennedy (Daily Record).
TIF Tactics – Gerrard may have big plans for Kennedy
Gerrard’s comments, and introduction of such a young talent into the squad, will surely give his academy players a boost in spirits. It could be a sign of his willingness to make gradual introductions into the first team. With such a busy schedule in the next month and a bit, Gerrard will potentially be looking toward youth out of necessity (WhoScored.com).
On the same day that Rangers faced Hamilton, Manchester United clawed back a result against Sheffield United. It was 19-year-old Brandon Williams, 18-year-old Mason Greenwood and 22-year-old Marcus Rashford who scored the Red Devils’ three goals (Sky Sports). This shows that bringing academy recruits can be a fruitful experiment for teams. And with Rangers’ youth teams performing especially well, the winning mentality of this group, in particular, has already been proven (Rangers).
It is unlikely, with the first-team playing as well as they have been, for Gerrard to make any major wholesale changes. But his willingness to promote youth team players at a gradual rate will surely inspire the group of youngsters. It will also give Rangers fans a small taste of what’s yet to come in the future.