Glasgow Rangers missed the chance to return to the top of the Premiership table on Sunday as their clash against Dundee was postponed due to a heavily waterlogged pitch.
This means that the Ibrox side trail Celtic by one point heading into the international break, although they do have a game in hand.
For Philippe Clement and his team, the postponement may have been a godsend, since the players’ demanding schedule has obviously taken a toll on them lately, as seen by some of them appearing gaunt throughout the previous two games.
In recent weeks, the Belgian manager has been forced to use the entire depth of his playing roster, which has given young players eager to advance some fantastic opportunities.
Cole McKinnon is a worthy illustration. A few days later, the midfielder gained additional senior minutes against Hibs in the Scottish Cup. The midfielder made his European debut for the Gers against Benfica in the first leg of their Europa League last-16 match.
In addition, Ross McCausland has established himself on the team, suggesting that Clement is placing a strong emphasis on finding young players with potential.
Among the most gifted academy players at Ibrox, Alex Lowry is a Scot who has not yet been given an opportunity by the 49-year-old.
Alex Lowry could be Rangers’ next Barry Ferguson
Every new midfield player in the academy who starts to show potential is hailed as the “next Barry Ferguson,” even though Ferguson had a unique talent that only comes around once in a generation.
But Lowry is unique, and he has the potential to force his way back into the senior squad if he can overcome the injury problems that have stunted his development over the past 12 months.
Under the legendary Walter Smith, Ferguson made his Light Blues debut on the last day of the 1996–1997 season. After Dick Advocaat was appointed in 1998, Ferguson established himself as a regular member of the team.
Ferguson, who is only 22 years old, became the club’s youngest-ever captain under the Dutchman and helped the Gers hold onto their title as the best team in Scotland.
The Scottish player didn’t stay long in England, returning to his beloved Rangers in January 2005, after being transferred to Blackburn Rovers in the summer of 2003 for a fee of £7.5 million due to financial difficulties.
The former Scotland international was a member of the Gers until 2009, when he finally left. He played with the team for 428 appearances in all, scoring 61 goals and taking home 15 major awards.
Although Ferguson usually played in the middle of the midfield, he was renowned for his darting forwards into the opponent box and his exquisite passing range, which allowed him to control play.
Although Lowry is a more offensive-minded midfielder, he has displayed Ferguson-like abilities in his Light Blues games. At the beginning of the season, Lowry was sent on loan to Hearts in order to get some much-needed senior playing time.
Alex Lowry’s statistics at Hearts
Lowry made a total of 17 appearances in all competitions for the Gorgie team, recording four assists and one goal as he attempted to convince his parent club that he could compete regularly in the Premiership.
During his loan stint in Edinburgh, the 20-year-old displayed a lot of promise, particularly in the top flight. In addition to playing in 12 games during the competition, the midfielder also generated one major opportunity, averaged 1.8 crucial passes per game, succeeded in 1.4 dribbles, and took 1.6 shots per game, giving the team an additional attacking outlet.
Although it was anticipated that he would stay at Hearts until the conclusion of the season, Clement called him back in January in an attempt to find him a temporary replacement.
Alex Lowry’s Rangers statistics
Lowry was benched for the Scottish Cup match against Stirling Albion in January 2022 after making an impression at the academy, as Giovanni van Bronckhorst tried to give a few players more playing time.
It was Lowry’s turn to shine when Ianis Hagi sustained a season-ending injury after just 15 minutes, and he came off the bench to make his debut.
.He made his debut in front of the Ibrox supporters not long after entering the game, finishing coolly to score the first goal. It appeared as though the Gers had a teenage phenomenon on the verge of breaking out.
with the remainder of the season, he made six more appearances with the first team, recording an assist and another goal, but that was the best he could do at the Rangers.
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