ANDY HALLIDAY has urged the Rangers kids to make the most of their chance to impress in Portugal this summer.

Boss Steven Gerrard has included a handful of players from the Academy at the Hummel Training Centre in his squad for the pre-season trip to the Algarve.

With six new faces already on board ahead of the new campaign, it will be difficult for any up-and-coming talent to stake a claim at first team level.

But Halliday reckons the emergence of winger Glenn Middleton 12 months ago shows that anything is possible for the next generation of Ibrox stars.

He said: “I've had a conversation with a few of the young boys ahead of the pre-season trip.

“Obviously, I was an example myself of how you can use it to impress the manager and stake a claim.

“But for the young boys coming with us, they should look no further than Glenn Middleton.

“A year ago, he was part of four or five kids who came with us to Marbella last year.

“But he managed to play his way into the fold. He trained so well that when the European games came up quickly, he was in the match day squad.

“The younger ones who didn't quite catch the eye, were back down with the reserves.

“So I've had a chat with them to say Glenn's the marker for them this time. If they go and do as well as he did in Portugal, they'll have a chance.

“As for the loan boys coming back, they've done all they can. They went out to play games and do well, which they've done.

“It's about coming back to Rangers and showing you can perform here so pre-season is big for everyone.”