Gers in midfield prodigy blow as injury halts first-team progress

Yesterday at 07:00 AM

It is strange to see a European fixture list and Rangers having a free week which means that the only football for Philippe Clement to cast his eye over is the B team.

Playing in the challenge cup, the starting line-up featured several familiar faces with Robbie Fraser, Alex Lowry and Clinton Nsiala all making the trip up to the north east.

The other notable starter was Bailey Rice, a player who much is expected but who, since joining Rangers, has yet to really make any sort of impression on the senior squad.

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Bailey Rice in Rangers B team injury blow

Given the chance to dictate proceedings for the B team, Rice was pivotal in the young Gers getting on the front foot and released their full-backs with pinpoint accurate passing.

Unfortunately, after being on the end of a heavy challenge, Rice had to be taken off with just half an hour on the clock.

Michael Beale labelled Rice a "heck of a player" shortly before he was sacked, however, Philippe Clement was more reserved in his assessment of the teenage midfielder:

"I don't like to speak too much about individuals but OK I will speak about Bailey (Rice) because he knows.

"He's for me a really talented player and I think he has a great future in this club but there are also some points we need to work on which are different academy football and the first team, for sure without ball.

"So that's a really important step to make and he's going to make that step. If he makes that step then he's going to be pushing for positions in the first team."

Rangers need a new plan to get the best out of Rice

It seems to be one step forward and two back for Rice whilst his former Motherwell teammate Lennon Miller goes from strength to strength and has seen his name mentioned as being a possible senior Scotland squad call-up.

Rice is the only, real, natural number six at Rangers in terms of his ability to dictate play with his passing.

As Nathan Patterson proved, sometimes being thrown in at the deepend is the best approach for academy players if they have the right skill set.

If Rice is getting the correct coaching, he should be able to step into the first team and play his normal game.

With no structured B team fixture list and without going out on loan, Rice won't be getting the run of games that he needs to challenge himself properly.

He also won't be getting the chance to prove to Clement that he could be the long-term answer to the number six problem.