STEVEN GERRARD has long been aware of the promise and potential within the Rangers youth ranks.

Now he needs his Ibrox boys to become men, for winners and first team players to be nurtured.

The victory against Celtic in the Scottish Youth Cup final on Thursday night brought a series of Gers kids to the attention of a wider audience.

Over the coming days, the Light Blues’ Under-20s could follow the 18s lead as they look to beat their Old Firm rivals to the Glasgow Cup and the Reserve League title.

The silverware and the medals are rightly cherished by those that earn them. Gerrard needs to see more, though, as he demands improvements technically, tactically and physically from the players that hope to catch his eye and win his trust.

“I’m very pleased with the whole Academy in terms of their achievements so far and potentially what they’re going to achieve,” he said. “That’s all fantastic and they deserve a lot of praise for that, but that’s not my interest with all due respect.

“I wasn’t looking to see them lift a trophy. I’m looking for that one person who can add to my 18, make it stronger, come and contribute and maybe save me money in the coming transfer window. That’s how I’m looking in on it. I’m obviously delighted for the kids, the experience of winning and playing at Hampden, it’s all great for them. But I’m looking for that one or two.

“I’m saying ‘where are they going to be in six months?’ ‘Can they potentially stop me going into the transfer market during the next window or the window after?’

“There is also a group within the reserve squad who potentially have got the talent. But there is a lot else that needs to be there.

“I’m always saying to Graeme Murty and the Academy staff that talent will only get you so far. I need them to have the body. I need them to live right, on and off the pitch.

“And I need them to be mentally strong to cope with the demands of playing at first-team level. And they have to be good enough to move someone out the way.

“There are a lot of factors that go with the young players. It’s not just talent. It’s not just ‘oh, he scored a good goal’ or ‘he scored 16 goals at youth level’. Is he capable and mentally strong enough to come and move a Scott Arfield or a Connor Goldson? Have they got that in their locker? That’s what I’m looking for.”

The focus from Gerrard has been firmly fixed on first team matters since he was appointed as Rangers boss last summer and moved from the Liverpool Academy to Ibrox.

But the 38-year-old has always taken more than a keen interest in the up-and-coming players that are striving to rise through the ranks at the Hummel Training Centre.

Ross McCrorie and Glenn Middleton have led the way this term, while the likes of Stephen Kelly and Serge Atakayi have been regularly involved with the first team pool.

Gerrard said: “Don’t be surprised in the next four games if you see someone in the squad with a chance of coming on. That’s not just to give someone a debut.

“It’s because these kids are showing that they deserve a chance.

“There’s no point in having an Academy or believing in an Academy system if you aren’t going to give these players a chance.

“Then it’s over to them. We’ll take six to eight of the younger lads with us on pre-season.

“Again, that will be another opportunity for them over a week to shine and show they are capable of competing with the first team lads.

“All the way through the season, I’d say probably 100 per cent of the Reserve squad and 30 or 40 per cent of the Under-18s have had the opportunity to come and train with us or play in practice matches.

“We used four at Ibrox the other day against Liverpool Under-23s. I’ll continue to give them the opportunities. They’ve got to show they are able to cope, thrive and contribute.”

There were plenty of positives for Gerrard to take at Hampden and his staff and several of his players watched David McCallum’s side clinch a dramatic 3-2 victory.

Hopes are high at Ibrox that several players are on the brink of pushing for a first team berth. But there is still plenty of work to be done before those dreams become a reality.

Gerrard made his name in second string games alongside the likes of Jamie Carragher, David Thompson, Neil Ruddock and Phil Babb before he was given his chance at Anfield.

And the Liverpool legend believes the age-old problem of bridging the gap still exists in Scotland.

Gerrard said: “In a lot of the games, we win 5-1 and 6-1. I don’t feel the kids are getting a test or challenge in a lot of the games. It’s not real football. It doesn’t look real compared to Premiership level.

“We need to find a way to give these kids something that is closer to first-team level and we need to get them playing in front of crowds against men earlier.

“The people with the power to adapt or change need to sit down and find a way to provide a better test.

“I watched the Scotland-England 21s game at Tynecastle not so long ago and it was a major mismatch.

“But I watched the Youth Cup finals in Scotland and England on Thursday night, and I didn’t see much difference. Up to a certain age, I think we are in good shape in Scotland in terms of creating talents. But then there is an area, from 19 to first-team level, where there is a drop-off in terms of their development.”