There are not many professionals who can boast playing for their country and club within 24 hours; Bailey Rice, however, is one of them.

At just 16 years old, Rice has been at the centre of a transfer battle leading to his move to Rangers, featured for Michael Beale's first-team and racked up the caps for Scotland at youth level.

And there won't be many with similar tales of being thrust in for their professional debut quite like that of Rice who had only just stepped off a flight back to Scotland in the early hours of the morning - following a thumping 7-0 win over Switzerland - before his Rangers bow.

It might just have been a two-minute cameo at the end of a comfortable 3-0 win, but for Rice it was everything.

“It was hectic," the teenager said of the whirlwind 24 hours from Scotland duty to Scottish Premiership debut. "Brian (McLaughlin) told me that I would get half a game and be on the bench against Livingston the next day.

"I then got the call from first-team coach Harry (Watling) when we were checking in our bags in Spain. He said I would be on the bench and likely get minutes, if the game planned out.

“I ended up getting back in Glasgow at like quarter to one and I had to jump straight home to bed. Next thing I know I was on the bus to Livingston."

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The only problem? Rice could barely sleep as he anticipated a long-awaited debut, and one he was confident he deserved.

“I genuinely couldn’t shut my eyes," admitted Rice. "It was a dream come true, honestly. I was so buzzing.

“But knowing I was probably going to get game time didn’t make the experience harder to deal with.

“I’d been on the bench against St Mirren and Aberdeen and I’ve been thinking I’m good enough to get on the pitch any time now.

“So you’ve always got to be mentally prepared for that.

“It was difficult [to play two matches in 24 hours]. There was a lot to take in, especially with me being a Rangers fan.

“It was a dream come true. I was obviously focusing on the game against Switzerland first and foremost.

“Then after that, I could turn my attention to Rangers."

Currently, 12 Rangers academy graduates play in the Ibrox first-team and Beale has assured supporters young players will continue to be given a platform into next season.

It gives Rice confidence the opportunity will be there, it's just down to the players to take it.

“When the new manager came in, that was one of the first things he talked about - young development," he explained.

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 “I felt you could step up from the B-team to the first team, especially training quite regularly. When you get your chance, you have to take it and thankfully I did as I got some game time against Livingston. Hopefully there are many more.

“They give us an opportunity so we need to take it. There’s no point hiding in training as a young boy or not speaking in your wee shell. You need to bring out your personality and show what you can do - you might only get one."

Rice has featured for Rangers' B team this season along with training and making matchday squads for the first-team, but he hasn't been blinded by the talent on show or tried to emulate the top players at Ibrox, instead wisely remaining focused on his game.

He said: “I don’t look up to anyone. I don’t see the benefit of that. I’m never going to be them.

“So I just look to be the best player I possibly can.

“I just want to be the best version I can be."

Rice is expected to play for Scotland under-17s this afternoon against Germany after defeats to Portugal and France in the UEFA U17 tournament finals.

On the experience, he added: “We are probably playing the best in the world at this age. You’re not going to get that in Scotland - that’s a fact.

"You need to take that learning experience and better yourself.  

"I feel like I can learn from these players and the opportunities of playing in this tournament and take it back to my club football."