Rangers assistant boss Gary McAllister hopes the Light Blues' youngsters will fight their way into the starting XI - and has backed their international participation to be a big part of that push.

Gers fans have seen Ross McCrorie make his mark on the first-team but the young midfielder was farmed out on loan to Portsmouth earlier this summer.

Other kids like Ryan Hardie, Josh McPake, Stephen Kelly and Cameron Palmer have all stamped their authority elsewhere on loan at Blackpool, Dundee, Ayr and Partick Thistle respectively.

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And, speaking to Rangers TV, McAllister admits he hopes to see more academy products making their way in the game - and fighting to make it as a Gers player.

He said: "That's something that's caught my eye since arriving here, the quality of the youngsters that we have here.

"And we've got them spread right through all the Scotland set-ups.

"It's good because we keep in touch with Malky [Mackay], [Billy] Starky, Scot Gemmill.

"And they're pleased with some of the progress our youngsters are making.

"That experience at youth international level must help them to get closer to the Rangers first team."