I was interested to read Craig Mulholland’s comments in the Evening Times on Thursday when he said that there is a group of young players that could be ready to challenge for a place in the first team in the not too distant future.

That is so important for Rangers and the Ibrox crowd always relate to youngsters that come through the ranks and they want them to do well.

Rangers confirmed the new games programme for their Development Squad this week and Graeme Murty’s side will play the likes of Man City, Spurs, Liverpool, Alkmaar and Benfica over the next couple of months.

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These matches will be a great experience for the Under-20s and it will give them a real test. That can only improve them as players.

If it goes well this season, I am sure Rangers will continue with this plan in the future. And other clubs might look at it and do exactly the same thing.

With the greatest of respect to the teams in Scotland, Rangers will be playing against better opposition every time they take to the field and that has to be a benefit for them.

Even being away with the squad and travelling to matches, staying away, playing in different conditions, will be a really good experience for the kids.

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This is obviously something that Rangers have thought a lot about and only time will tell whether it is going to be successful or not. Let’s hope that it is.

Rangers need to be bringing their own players through the ranks and hopefully we will see a higher quality of youngster being produced over the next couple of years.

That would be great for the club, obviously. But it would also be good for the national side as well.