Findlay Curtis has been backed to make his mark at Ibrox after former Rangers star Andy Halliday hailed the fearless streak the young winger brings to the Gers attack.
Speaking on BBC Scotland Sportsound after the Jagiellonia game on Thursday, Halliday singled out the 20-year-old’s willingness to take risks in the final third as exactly the kind of quality Derek McInnes could lean on this season.
“Curtis had a fearless nature to try to make a positive impact. Not everything came off, but when he gets the ball, he drives at players, he plays one-two, he’s running off the ball and having efforts at goal,” said Halliday.
He almost secured a draw for Rangers with a stinging snap-shot that bounced off the post.
Curtis is no stranger to Rangers supporters. He joined the academy at the age of six and came through the youth ranks before spending the second half of last season on loan at Kilmarnock.
Back at his boyhood club, he has already featured twice from the bench this term and earned his audition under McInnes during a summer of change at Ibrox.
Why Findlay Curtis can force his way in
With Rangers still chasing a first win of the campaign, Halliday’s endorsement lands at a useful moment.
It follows his justified concerns about what McInnes’ team is missing, but a first competitive win of the season can change the outlook.
After his encouraging cameo in Poland, Curtis needs to build on the momentum against Hibs on Sunday.
Whether Curtis starts or is introduced from the bench once again remains McInnes’s call, but a young Ranger unafraid of the big stage is exactly what a nervy start to the season could do with.
The teenager didn’t quite hit the heights during pre-season, but his efforts in the Europa League loss to Jagiellonia are a timely reminder of what he is capable of.
Findlay Curtis can and will make a positive impact for Rangers this season, but expectations must be tempered as he is still in a development phase and will be impacted by inconsistency.
The opportunity is there to be seized.
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