Gers’ youngster Kyle Glasgow is beginning to make a name for himself in senior football, and his performances for Alloa Athletic have now put the Rangers youngster firmly into the Scotland Under-21 conversation.
The 16-year-old forward is spending the season with the League One side as part of Rangers' loan co-operation agreement with the Wasps and has made an immediate impression in his first taste of senior football.
Glasgow has scored three goals in 10 appearances for Alloa, providing an early indication of why Rangers have been so excited about his potential.
Glasgow earns Scotland call
His development has now caught the attention of new Scotland Under-21 head coach Tony Docherty, who has highlighted the teenager as an example of the benefits of Premiership clubs placing young players into the SPFL's lower divisions.
Docherty's side face Azerbaijan at Rugby Park on September 30 before travelling to Bulgaria on October 6, with the young Scots attempting to keep their 2027 European Championship qualification hopes alive, as the former Dundee boss replaces Scot Gemmill.
Glasgow has been confirmed in the 55-year-old's first squad selection.
Speaking about Glasgow's recent performances, Docherty said: "He's holding his own but more importantly, he's learning the game."
"Selection for squads is all based on performance and there's an example of a young player that's performing really well at that level and I think he needs rewarded for that.
Glasgow's emergence is particularly notable given how close he came to making his Rangers first-team debut while still only 15.
Rohl wanted Glasgow for Rangers debut
Former Rangers boss Danny Rohl had identified Glasgow as a player he wanted to involve at senior level last season.
Rohl wanted to hand the teenager his first-team debut in Rangers' Scottish Cup tie against Queen's Park, but regulations surrounding the use of players under the age of 16 prevented him from doing so.
Ashton Scally, who later debuted against Falkirk in May, was also denied his Gers’ bow but 17-year-old Zebedee Lawson did come on for his first appearance as a substitute that night.
“It’s always important for us as a club, also for the academy,” Rohl said at the time.
“It was a shame it was not allowed to take Kyle and Ashton as well. They could use this opportunity to play, but there are some rules.”
“These are high-potential players. We like them, we want to keep them, very high-potential players for us for the future, and hopefully if they are the right age, they can help us as well.”
Rule changes clear pathway
Those regulations have since been changed this summer, opening the door for younger academy players to feature in senior football, with 15-year-olds Marcello De Barros and Andrew Fasanya debuting for St Mirren and Aberdeen respectively.
Rangers have subsequently continued to expose Glasgow to first-team surroundings. The club confirmed earlier this year that he had regularly trained with the senior squad before making the move to Alloa, being included in a European squad under Derek McInnes.
The forward's progress through the academy has been rapid. He was a prominent member of Rangers' Under-17 and Under-19 title-winning sides last season and scored more than 20 goals across the two age groups. He also featured for the Under-19s while still only 15.
Glasgow subsequently signed his first professional contract with Rangers and turned 16 earlier this year, with his brother Euan Glasgow also making his own senior debut for Montrose after joining the Gable Endies on loan from Hearts last January.
His performances have also brought international recognition. Glasgow has represented both Scotland and Portugal at youth level, with whom he is eligible through his mother.
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