ian1964 10,448 Posted November 28, 2013 Share Posted November 28, 2013 ALLY McCOIST has backed Barrie McKay to find his best form once again with Rangers after seeing him shine in the under-20 team this week. The manager was Ibrox on Sunday to see the teenager score a stunning 25-yard strike against Hibernian in the SFA Youth Cup. He then looked on as the winger broke the deadlock just after half time in a 3-0 SPFL U20 League win over Partick last night at Firhill. McKay has played just 65 minutes of first-team football this season in three substitute appearances against Forfar and East Fife. There have been a variety of reasons of that, most obviously because of the influx of new, more experienced players to Ibrox during the summer. McCoist also felt it was important to give McKay time to progress in the age group side again given he’s still just 18 and continuing to grow and develop physically. Secured at the club on a long-term deal, hopes are high the talented former Kilmarnock kid will get back to his best and make an impact at senior level. But McCoist told RangersTV: “We feel at this particular stage, he just needs to get back to under-20 level and find his feet once more. Barrie will come good again, we’ve no doubt about that. “He played well on Sunday and got part of the game at Partick as well, in which he scored the opening goal. “It’s a special talent as a 17 or 18-year-old that can go into any first team and command a regular place. “Barrie has come in and done well for us in the early period. He’s back in with his own age group and some boys who are still older than him and he’s progressing well. “He has to keep working hard in training and playing well in games. He has been doing that and we’ve had a wee chat with him so he understands that. “He also knows we’re in a position where boys have come in and done well. It’s just a matter of doing his job so that the staff take notice and we put him back in the side.” For an example of how he should go about winning a place back, McCoist thinks there are few better for McKay to look to than Fraser Aird. He made his first start of 2013/14 at Arbroath on Monday and played well enough to suggest he’ll retain his spot against Falkirk in the Scottish Cup this weekend. McCoist added: “I thought he did exceptionally well, particularly in the first half. He was very direct and made himself available for passes to link up with Sebastien Faure. “His use of the ball was great. He had some good corners and there were times when he certainly forced his opponent into one or two tackles. “Fraser was very nippy and had a good period when he was on so he has given us something to think about. “It’s not really a surprise because he has been looking really bright and sharp in training and in one or two of the practice games we’ve had. “His progress provides encouragement to the rest of the lads in the under-20s, who I have to say have been fantastic this week. “The boys are doing really well at that level and boys such as Fraser are a really good example to them. “We’ve more experience in the senior side this season and we’re more settled but believe me, we’re dying to give youth a chance. If people show up well, we’ll do that.” http://www.rangers.co.uk/news/headlines/item/5657-baz-will-bounce-back If you click on the link you can see the goals from the youth game v Hibs 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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