THEY are the team-mates who have never met each other and who will become international rivals thousands of miles from Murray Park.

Luca Gasparotto and Gedion Zelalem will go head-to-head in the early hours of Friday morning as they look to take another step towards potential Olympic gold.

It will be the first time the pair have stepped foot on the same pitch, and they will do so with the same aim but coming from very different angles.

Gers defender Gasparotto is in line to make his bow for the Canadian Under-23 side as they kick-off their three game group stage schedule against their American counterparts.

The Stars and Stripes will field Arsenal starlet Zelalem as he looks to take his fine form from the Championship into the international arena.

The kids from Cuba and Panama also stand in the way of the Light Blues pair as they take a break from domestic matters and prepare to meet at Sporting Park in the first of three games in six days.

While Zelalem has made an instant impact at Ibrox and become a key part of Mark Warburton’s blue print, Gasparotto has had to head out on loan to Morton in search of regular first team football this term.

He has yet to meet or greet the Gunners protégé, but now has a chance to see the 18-year-old at close quarters in Kansas.

“I am down at Morton every day so I have not even had a chance to meet Gedion yet,” Gasparotto told SportTimes.

“He is obviously a good player and it will be cool to go up against him. It is strange that the first time we will meet will be on opposite teams but it is exciting and I am looking forward to the game.

“He is a very good young player and it is great that he has come to Rangers. He has been great so far.

“I have watched a few of the games and he has made a big impact. He has played really well.

“There is no doubt that he can play at a really high level in the future.

“It is great that Rangers are able to bring players like him in. It is good that these type of players want to come to the club and play and learn in this environment.”

Glasgow Times: Gedion Zelalem and Mark WarburtonGedion Zelalem and Mark Warburton

While Zelalem is looking to inspire Rangers to the Championship silverware, and Gasparotto will hope to play his part in the second half of the season, it is gold they are setting their sights on in the coming days.

The hat-trick of fixtures Stateside are the first steps on the road to Olympic glory as the US and Canada bid for a place in Rio next summer.

And Gasparotto is determined to get off to a flying start against the Yanks to lay down a marker in their Brazil bid.

He said: “It would be amazing to play at the Olympics. I am really looking forward to the qualifying over the next few days.

“We have got three tough games but we are looking to start in good fashion. We want to win the group and that is the main aim.

“We have been in camp for a week and the boys are getting to know each other. We are all excited and hopefully we can go on and do well.

“There is a good rivalry between the USA and Canada and we are looking to make a good start to the tournament.

“It is not quite like the Old Firm! But there is a bit of rivalry there and they are always good games.

“It is a good game to start the tournament off so hopefully we can make a statement right away that we mean business and we are looking to do well.”

While Zelalem has caught the eye for Warburton’s side in recent weeks, Gasparotto has also been impressing in the Championship after clinching a loan switch to the Ton.

The defender has played six times for Jim Duffy’s side, including in the 3-2 win over Motherwell in the League Cup, as he has made a solid start to life in Greenock.

Glasgow Times: Luca Gasparotto in action for RangersLuca Gasparotto in action for Rangers

Gasparotto has been around the first team picture at Ibrox for a couple of years but the arrivals of Danny Wilson, Rob Kiernan and Dominic Ball in the summer pushed him down the Gers pecking order.

It is a ladder he is determined to climb back up, though, as he looks to prove his worth at Cappielow and push for an Ibrox berth in the future.

Gasparotto said: “I have enjoyed every minute of it at Morton so far and we have had a good start to the season.

“Before the season, not a lot of people would have thought we would be doing this well. It is exciting for the club and it is good for me as well.

“I am playing at the same level that Rangers are playing at and I am showing that I can play at that level.

“I think I have done well so far and I am looking forward to continuing with them until January.

“I was lucky enough to make my first team debut a couple of years ago and I loved every minute of it. That is what drives me on now, I want more of it.

“I need to be patient and hopefully with some more experience and games I will be able to get another chance.”