STEVEN GERRARD has urged Ciaran Dickson and Leon King to kick on this term after making their Rangers debuts on Sunday.
The Academy kids came off the bench during the second half of the 4-0 Betfred Cup victory over Falkirk as Rangers eased into the next round of the competition.
Goals from Jermain Defoe, Calvin Bassey, Borna Barisic and James Tavernier ensured it was another pleasing night for Gerrard as the Gers’ unbeaten run continued this term.
And it was to prove a special moment for two of his kids as - on the 22nd anniversary of his debut for Liverpool - Gerrard handed Dickson and King their maiden appearances for the Light Blues.
Gerrard said: "I thought young Dickson was terrific. He played with energy, personality and character. He’s the type who will never let me down.
“He’s probably had a similar upbringing to myself in that he knows what it means to represent Rangers and the shirt. So we gave him an opportunity to train with us five or six weeks ago and he has been terrific every single day.
“Young Leon is a little different. He maybe got his chance tonight because a couple dropped out. But he has trained very well as well. He’s still very young.
“But I will be watching them both very closely now. I want to see how they react to that taste of first team football and see them work hard to get more opportunities.
“I’ll be watching to see if it goes to their head or they want to really see it as a start of their careers going forward.
“They both look physically ready. You judge them in training first and foremost - they are training like first team players, not kids coming in to make the numbers up.
“I see a lot in the academy from afar and these are two good types who deserved the opportunity today."
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