With Rangers current situation it seemed only right that we should take a look at some of the youngsters who may be around the first team or even starring in the first eleven this coming season. In the past few years we have seen the introduction of a few players from the youth sides, most notably John Fleck and the now departed Danny Wilson. Some of the names I am about to discuss you may have heard of and some may be unfamiliar, the following is just a gentle introduction to those who are about to become a lot more familiar.
Grant Adam, Position Goalkeeper - born April 16th 1991 (age 19)
Grant Adam has just enjoyed his first full season as Rangers under-19 goalkeeper yet is likely to be Rangers 3rd choice goalkeeper. Younger brother of Blackpool and ex Rangers star Charlie, the youngster has performed well at under-19 level. A regular pick for Scotland at under-16 level, Grant finds his top team experience very limited and without any noticeable loan deals under his belt he was considered to be well outside the first team loop. With other youngster Scott Gallacher just moved out on loan, Grant would not normally be considered so high up the current goalkeeping ranks. Having made the trip to Australia he is yet unlikely to see first team action but this will surely be good in terms of experience. Injury or sale to either of our first choice goalkeepers, Alexander and McGregor, means you may see Grant Adam's name more often.
Ross Perry, Position Centre Half - born February 07th 1990 (age 20)
Ross Perry is a graduate from Rangers double winning under-19 side of season 2007-08. Forming a fantastic partnership at youth level with the now departed Chris Smith he helped Rangers dominate at 19s level in a team that boasted the likes of Shinnie, Lennon and Furman. Ross enjoys automatic pick for Scotland unders 21’s - ahead of Danny Wilson despite the latter’s success last season - and is considered by many to be the better prospect. Loaned out to English lower division side Oxford last season, Ross was unable to make much of an impact suffering from one injury to the next. Even at the moment with Rangers being so short numbered the chances of Ross Perry being around the starting first team are minimal, but there is no reason why, if given a chance, Ross, should not be able to make an impact at top team level.
Jordan McMillan, Position Right Back - born October 16th 1988 (age 21)
Jordan McMillan, similar to Ross Perry, is also a graduate from the double winning under 19s side of 07/08. Having captained both the reserves and also the 19s Jordan brings at least some experience to the first team squad. Jordan also has the experience of having already made his top team debut in a 1-3 league cup win away at Dundee on the 27th of October 2009. Positioned in the centre of midfield that evening, Jordan brings another one of Walters most favoured assets, flexibility to play in more than one position. Jordan is most suited to playing at Right Back, but equally adapt at centre back and able to fill in at centre and defensive midfield. Jordan has enjoyed experiences out on loan at both Queen of the South and latterly last season Hamilton, where serious injury curtailed any chances of first team action. Having recently secured a two year contract (a rarity at Ibrox these days) and at 21 years old the chances are Jordan McMillan will find himself regularly amongst the first team squad. I personally have seen a lot of Jordan at youth/reserve level and he is as big a talent as I have seen at these levels: we should have no fears should he secure an extended run in the first team. Strong in the tackle (and with a keen awareness of the Glasgow rivalry), he has all the attributes to enable a good Rangers career and has probably the strongest chance of the youngsters to make an impact on the first team.
Gregg Wylde - Left Back/midfield - born March 23rd 1991 (age 19)
Recently described as a ‘flying machine’ Gregg Wylde has one thing in his locker most youths at Ibrox don’t have, the ability to provide natural width. With pace to burn and no fear in attacking the opposing full backs, Gregg is a serious proposition when it comes to the next Ibrox starlet breaking through the ranks. A stand out at youth levels in the last few seasons (despite the 19s being trophy less) the youngster has already made his Rangers top team debut last season in the 4-1 opening day victory against Falkirk. Gregg also came on to provide much needed width in the 1-1 January draw against Hearts in which he had a hand in the last minute equaliser provided by Andy Little (more on him to come later). With pace and width Gregg has the ability to make an instant impact on the Rangers first team squad, he also possesses a balance on the left side no other player is able to provide. He has performed most of his young career at left back but when his team is needing a goal is often pushed forward to the left wing role where he is encouraged to make attacking runs. I have a feeling this is where the management see his long term future being (especially as both substitute appearances so far have been in that position). Gregg Wylde is as close to the bright light we have coming into the team this season, so, alongside Jordan McMillan, is also my tip to star in the first team this coming year.
Andrew Shinnie - Central/Right midfield - born July 17th 1989 (age 21)
Andrew Shinnie has recently enjoyed two first team loan spells at Dundee where he clocked up over 30 first team appearances. Another from the double winning youth team of 2007-08, Andrew is also a regular at Scotland under 19 level, earning two caps at 21 level and also has a goal to his credit. Some may remember that Shinnie has also made his Rangers debut, way back on the 17th March 2007 in a home victory against Aberdeen; remarkably this was also the day he scored twice against St Mirren in an under 19s league match. At 21 years old he brings at least some experience to the first team and should really now be pushing on in terms of permanent first team levels. Shinnie also has the ability to make a first team impact should he be given the chance, 30 appearances for Dundee should have given him the confidence and appetite to perform at this level on a permanent basis. Like Jordan, this season should be one where Andrew pushes on and becomes a regular in the first team squad.
Jamie Ness - Central Midfield - born March 2nd 1991 (age 19)
Described as the next big thing to come out of the Rangers youth set up back in November 2009 by Walter Smith, Jamie Ness comes with a pedigree but is yet to make his top team bow at Rangers. A strong central midfielder at over 6 ft, Jamie has the stature and is clearly rated by management at Rangers. Alongside Wylde he has the ability to become the next big thing within the Rangers youth ranks. Jamie has several caps for Scotland at under 19 level and was also tipped by then National youth Manager Billy Stark as one of the stars of the future. Impressive any time I have seen Jamie at under 19s level, this season could turn out to be a big one for the player and we are likely to see his name around the first team squads more often.
Thomas Kind Bendiksen - Central Midfield - born August 8th 1989 (age 20)
The young Norwegian was a youth signing from Harstad IL back in August 2007 and has been tipped for big things. A succession of bench appearances towards the end of last season seems to indicate that Thomas will at least be in the thoughts of the management this coming season. Described as a playmaker and an attacking midfielder, Thomas may just provide that something the current eleven do not have. He has suffered quite a bit with injury and missed the whole of the 2008/09 campaign with growing pain problems amongst other things. As yet Thomas is still to make his first team debut but at the age of 20 (almost 21) must now be considered as one who the club must be looking to utilise. I must admit to not seeing a lot of Kind Bendiksen at all at youth level, indeed most of the time I have seen him he has been stood next to us on the sidelines injured (with his Girlfriend 
! ) so I will be following the progress of Kind closely this season.
Andrew Little - Centre Forward/Right Back - born May 12th 1989 (age 21)
Andrew should be well known to most Rangers fans now having made 6 top team appearances in total, including a last minute equalising strike in a 1-1 draw with Hearts in January of last season. Andrew has been capped several times at youth level for Northern Ireland and has also made his top team debut in a 3-2 victory against Poland on 28th March 2009 (remembered best for ‘Artur Boruc Ulster’s no. 1’ performance ). Andrew also has the ability to play at right back and started the October old firm in this position only to be substituted 11 minutes in due to tearing his hamstring, which caused him to miss the next 6 weeks of that season. His natural position seems to be centre forward and this is where he performs and is chosen regularly for Northern Ireland, his favoured position at Ibrox seems to be less clear although one would assume, having secured natural right back Jordan McMillan for the next 2 years, Andy’s future is seen at centre forward. Strong, athletic and quick, this is also a big season for Andrew and he is now looked upon as a first team squad member in the same category as John Fleck.
Rory Loy - Centre Forward - born March 19th 1988 (age 22)
Rory Loy joined the club in 2006 from Kilmarnock in a controversial and unpopular transfer, which Kilmarnock were said to be furious about due to Loy’s outstanding potential. Rory made his top team debut in November 2008 against Inverness Caley in a 5-0 Rangers victory. He has since been out on loan twice to Dunfermline and St Mirren where he made a limited impact. Capped 5 times at Scotland under 21 level and with one goal to his name. Sealing a two year contract until 2011 and at the age of 22 Loy can no longer be seen as a youngster and this surely must be his best chance to break into the first team at Rangers.
Archie Campbell - Centre Forward - born January 10th 1991 (Age 19)
Archie has been impressive at under 19 level now for the last two seasons scoring a lot of goals for the team. At just 5ft 5’ Archie has great pace which has troubled many a defence at youth level and an ability to finish well. When it comes to first team opportunities I don’t think Archie will be involved that much, especially considering Andy Little, John Fleck and even Rory Loy may be ahead of him in the pecking order. I have chosen to include Archie Campbell as he is often discussed on the forum as having the potential to break into the first team but for me this season comes to soon for Archie, but with the current situation at the club I suppose you may just never know. . . .
The players described above will all likely feature in and amongst the Rangers first team and squad this season. What was interesting to me is that most are not the youngsters we perceive them to be, especially considering Danny Wilson made his top team debut at the age of just 17. Most are around 20 years old, even 22 in the case of Rory Loy, and we should really be considering these guys now as first team players, if they can’t progress then in our current position we should be cutting the cloth accordingly. These guys should now be at an age to begin to perform well for Rangers if they are ever going to make it at all.
The future of these players remains to be seen but it will be interesting to see just what impact they make on the first team. The way it looks at the moment there is certainly an opportunity for all of the youth players to make an impact on a first team squad deprived of serious strength and depth. What I have also learned is that young players can’t be judged until they are given a chance. For example; I was against the idea of throwing Danny Wilson into the first team last season fearing he was not ready, but his performances have shown me otherwise. So what we must be prepared to do as a support - and I hope the management show this also - is give these guys a chance to show us what they can do. Who knows what can happen: let's hope it is positive.