Pundit backs Clement to hand 17y/o Rangers gem first-team chance at Ibrox

Jamie Murphy has suggested Bailey Rice may be handed an opportunity to impress at Rangers under Philippe Clement this season.

The 17-year-old made two cameo appearances for the Light Blues in the Scottish Premiership last term and has already been named on the Gers’ first-team bench on three occasions so far this season.

After academy graduate Ross McCausland’s heroics from the bench against Malmo in the Europa League, Andy Walker was quick to ask Go Radio pundit Murphy which young star could be next to breakthrough at Ibrox.

Speaking on The Go Radio Football Show (27 September, 9:50) Walker asked: “I’m just wondering if you are aware of any other young lads at Ibrox that might get a chance at Ibrox at some point this season?”

Murray replied: “I think you’re probably looking at people like Bailey Rice. I spoke about it the other day, he was in the same Motherwell team as Lennon Miller.

“He’s a holding midfielder, good on the ball but like we see so often at Rangers and Celtic, it is harder to come through as a young player at Rangers and Celtic than it is at other teams.”

What has happened to Rangers gem Bailey Rice at Ibrox?

It hasn’t been exactly easy for Clement to blood young players into his team since he arrived in Glasgow because of the constant turmoil both on and off of the pitch at Ibrox over the last year.

But the Belgian has shown that he is more than willing to put trust in academy products, if and when he feels that they are old enough to come into the side and hold their own in both the Premiership and Europa League.

Although McCausland is the most obvious example, Clement also utilised Cole McKinnon off of the bench in the European clash with Benfica last term and the 21-year-old impressed pundits and fans alike with his cameo.

Rice may have yet to feature regularly under the Belgian in Glasgow, but he will almost certainly be given a chance to show just how good he is if he is as highly rated within Ibrox as has been suggested.

Ultimately, it will then be down to the teenager to show the Rangers boss that he deserves to be playing first-team football, just as McCausland has done over the last year or so.

In other Rangers news, James Tavernier has made a new transfer admission having been linked with an Ibrox exit this summer

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