Even after making 15 signings in the summer, it must have been great for Rangers fans to see a young player get an opportunity as Glenn Middleton got his first goal for the Light Blues in his side’s 4-0 rout over Dundee. The 18-year-old winger came on as a substitute and looked bright whenever he had the ball on his feet, and Gerrard would be delighted to see him progress so quickly. Middleton made his debut earlier in the season when the Gers took on Shkupi in the Europa League qualifiers.
After the 4-0 win, Gerrard praised the youngster and said,”We don’t want Glenn to just be an impact player, we want him to be a player here for many years who is a starter but there’s still a lot of development to come from him. The goal should do wonders and I thought his performance started when he scored.”
”He was on the periphery but when he scored that gave him the confidence to play and go for the jugular. Pleased for him and he’s got to be ready because there’s a start round the corner.”- he added further.
So it’s great to see a Scottish youngster hold his own and in with a chance to start even though the Gers have strengthened immensely in the wings department.
The winger came from the youth ranks at Norwich City and has been with the Gers since January. Middleton dominantly plays down the left flank, though he can feature from the right as well. What sets him apart is his pace and acceleration when on the ball, and his game style would suit when his side looks to hit on counter attacks. The Scottish u-21 international has that natural flair and dynamism in his game which makes it tough for defenders to handle him and Gerrard can often throw him in games to create an impact.
However, to be successful in the current team, Middleton needs to work on his defensive side of the game. Gone are the days when the winger and other forward-minded players were not supposed to defend. Gerrard is trying to instil the quality of defending as a team and that is where the youngster can work on. The young winger needs to track back and give his all even when he doesn’t have the ball on his feet.
Middleton is competing for a place with Ryan Kent who has been average at best. Therefore he would get a start somewhere soon. The gaffer has already given him a heads up to be prepared for a start in the coming weeks and that would be the real test for him, as so far, the 18-year-old has come in games when the pressure has been relatively low
