Rangers youth supremo Craig Mulholland has praised Ross McCrorie's rise to the first team and say he is just the start of a youth revolution at the club.
The teenage defender was one of the shining lights in the dying embers of the Pedro Caixinha reign, as the youngster cemented his place in the first team after making his debut in September.
Since then, the former Ayr United and Dumbarton loanee has secured his long-term future with the Gers, signing a new four-year contract in December.
His progress is now being praised by those inside the club who are hoping McCrorie's story will inspire a new generation of homegrown players.
Speaking to RangersTV, Head of Academy, Craig Mulholland, said: "The reason we are here ultimately is to produce players for the first team.
"That is the be-all and end-all.
"I think what Ross brings to it is his growth mindset and his willingness to work every day and that sums up how desperate he wants to be a footballer.
"Whether it be a player or a coach that desperation must be with us every day and Ross absolutely epitomises that.”
McCrorie, who is currently in the USA with the rest of the Rangers first team as they prepare to face Atletico Miniero in their first match of the Florida Cup, has been touted as a future Scotland player by former boss Caixinha.
The current Scotland Under-21 internationalist has already been joined in the Gers first team by fellow academy stars Jamie Barjonas and Ryan Hardie.
Meanwhile, his twin-brother Robby, the young goalkeeper who is on loan at Berwick Rangers this season, joined Ross in extending his deal with the Ibrox side.
This week, Rangers added ex-players Kevin Thomson and Gregory Vignal, along with former Wolves and Aston Villa coach, Stuart Taylor, to the coaching set up at Auchenhowie as they look to build on the McCrorie success.
Mulholland continued: "“If you remember when we changed the Academy two-and-a-half to three years ago, we said we had to get the environment right, the culture right and the staffing right.
"And then eventually, we will produce players out of that.
"Ross McCrorie is the start of that, and that has been a major positive for the Academy."
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