GLENN Middleton has been promoted to the Rangers first team for the upcoming campaign.

The winger caught the eye of new manager Steven Gerrard in pre-season and has been rewarded with a spot in the senior Gers squad. 

Middleton arrived in Glasgow from Norwich City in January and travelled with the Rangers squad for their pre-season training camp in Spain this summer.

Read more: Steven Gerrard wants to complete his Rangers transfer business sooner rather than later​

The 18-year-old did enough to convince the Liverpool legend to hand him appearances from the bench in all three of the Light Blues' Europa League qualifying matches so far this season. 

Speaking to Rangers TV, Gerrard explained that the young forward has seized the opportunity with both hands.

“They have done very well," he said. "The idea was to have a look at them in Spain and give them some opportunities.

“I don’t think anyone in the squad or anyone in the reserves will be disappointed as we have given them game time and minutes.

“Some have done really well, shone, accepted the challenge, faced it and taken it, and some have struggled a bit and it might take them a little bit longer to get another opportunity.

“But I think the one who has shone really, really well is Glenn Middleton. He has shown us he can be an impact player and he has shown he can play from the start now with a good performance against Wigan.

“So he is no longer an Academy player, he is a first-team squad member now for Rangers and he will start getting changed with the first team and he has earned that.

“So well done to Glenn. I had a chat with him and said ‘this is the start for you now’ – we need to start working on the whole package and get him to become a consistent winger for this football club for many years.”