‘I’ll play in goal if needed’ – humble Rangers kid ready to step into breach as injury crisis deepens

Rangers’ never-ending assault and midfield injury crisis has forced manager Philippe Clement to flex all of his squad’s muscles. Young midfielder Cole McKinnon is so gaining from his exposure to the starting lineup.

Prior to last week, McKinnon, 21, had made just one appearance for Rangers this season—a 14-minute cameo away at Benfica, followed by the final 11 minutes of Sunday’s Scottish Cup victory against Hibs. A player who scored against Hearts on his club debut in 2022 has needed time to regain his place in the lineup. He spent the previous season on loan at Partick Thistle, and this season, under former manager Michael Beale, he made a few appearances as a bench warmer.

The player is happy that the Belgian has shown faith in him. Current Rangers manager Philippe Clement believes highly of McKinnon, saying, “He is still a young lad but he has shown really good mentality and workrate in training and he has been growing on the ball month by month.” “It feels so much better to work with him, and he is improving me as a player in so many different ways,” McKinnon remarked. “I am appreciative that he has clearly provided me with those opportunity. It is due to unfortunate circumstances and a few injuries, but you must seize your chances when they present themselves.
A lifelong Rangers supporter, McKinnon promises to comply with Clement’s requests. “I have to act now,” He stated. “I will fill in the gaps if necessary, regardless of where in the park it is. I am the kind of player that will play wherever I am required to. Hopefully, I can continue to take my chances and remain modest if they arise. Not to get ahead of myself too much. Since I just have two appearances, I must continue to put in a lot of effort in my daily training, and maybe it will pay off.

When the Cambuslang native and Rangers academy graduate stepped onto the same field as Angel di Maria and company at the Estadio da Luz during Rangers’ 2-2 draw with Benfica, you might understand if he had a “pinch-yourself” moment. He might be referred to as

when the return leg takes place on Thursday. With Ross McCausland and Dujon Sterling added to the treatment list, the Rangers’ squad problems are not getting any better. Having to share a pitch with the World Cup winners, McKinnon remarked, “It was quite weird to be on the same pitch as them.” “I’m accustomed to seeing these players on television, and now I’m with them. It’s fantastic. You have to go in there and play; you can’t be too star struck by it all. At the end of the day, though, it is my work, and you can only take so much of it.

Inspiration also comes from seeing his friend McCausland make an impact on the squad and land a new contract. “I executed my contract in the precise

The day we started working together full-time was the same as Ross’s, so it’s good to see where he is now. Hopefully, I can take the same steps he has taken, and we work under the same boss,” McKinnon continued. “I hope I can follow in the footsteps of the manager, as you can see he has his beliefs there.”

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