The teenage midfielder Bailey Rice is prepared to join the first squad and assist ease the present injury crisis, according to Rangers boss Michael Beale.
When the Ibrox team plays Motherwell on Sunday, a number of players will be out due to injury, including Kieran Dowell, Todd Cantwell, Nico Raskin, and Danilo. Beale plans to use his entire squad’s depth over the next week.
He also mentioned that Rice, a 16-year-old former Motherwell youth player, might make an appearance at some stage.
“There’s some quality missing,” he added, referring to the four injuries to Kieran, Todd, Nico, and Danilo. However, we still had 20 outfield players available for the Betis game who were in training.
And I have faith that a few of the younger players will advance this season. It only matters when they take that step up—not if they do. If you play for this team, you should aim to play 60 games per season because that indicates success.
“This is why we build a squad, and hopefully, and it’s one game at a time, but by the end of this small batch, we’re praising the squad and the strength of it,” said the coach.
We are aware of Ryan Jack, but Bailey Rice is a very exceptional player. He won’t turn 17 until next month, so it will be crucial when I introduce him to this insane asylum. We will need to safeguard him, but I can assure you that he is prepared.
In a 3-0 victory over Livingston last season, Rice made his senior Rangers debut as a late substitution. Even though he also played for the first team during preseason friendly this summer, it is still his first senior outing to date.
Beale continued, “He’s a player with a lot of potential. He has been working out with us for a very, very long period, including throughout preseason.
The task facing his team as Motherwell looks to continue their lengthy unbeaten streak away from home has also been highlighted by the Rangers manager.
Since Stuart Kettlewell took over as manager in February, the Fir Park team has not lost on the road in the league, and their lone loss this year came last weekend against St Mirren at home.
The victory over Real Betis in their opening Europa League group encounter on Thursday night has given Rangers a similar sense of optimism, but Beale recognized that they couldn’t afford to take it easy with three important domestic matches at home this week.
It will be a very different challenge, the Rangers boss stated. Motherwell has an outstanding road record. They haven’t lost, so I’ve been told, for a very long time.
“So, the weekend game is an interesting one. They have had a week to get ready and a chance to see us.
“It’s crucial that we refrain from giving ourselves too many kudos. We must pick ourselves up, get healed, and move on.
“The action is really heating up right now. Six games are coming up in about 20 or 21 days. When you win, you want the following game to start as soon as possible. For our benefit, they do this week.
