Cole McKinnon reveals 'weird' Rangers realisation and shows off exactly why Philippe Clement is a fan
dailyrecord.co.ukRangers youngster Cole McKinnon is hoping to use the club's injury crisis as a chance to pick up more minutes in the first team.Boss Philippe Clement has had to mix-up his team selections in recent weeks to compensate for his lack of available wingers, with Oscar Cortes, Scott Wright, Abdallah Sima and Danilo all out on the treatment table.
As a result, the Belgian has had to use Tom Lawrence in a wide role while Dujon Sterling has also been operating in a previously unfamiliar right wing slot.With Scotland international Ryan Jack also in and out of the side with recurring injuries in recent weeks Rangers youth graduate McKinnon has seized an opportunity by adding to his first team appearance tally in the last two matches.
The 21-year-old scored on his debut in a post-split fixture against Hearts in May 2022 under Giovanni van Bronckhorst, but didn't make a first team outing for nearly two years before coming off the bench in last Thursday's thrilling 2-2 draw with Benfica in the first leg of their Europa League last 16 clash.McKinnon then came on as a substitute again last night, as Clement's men sealed their place in the semi-finals of the Scottish Cup with a 2-0 win over Hibs at Easter Road.
The former East Fife and Partick Thistle loanee was overjoyed to share the pitch with World Cup winners Nicolas Otamendi and Angel Di Maria in the draw with Benfica last week and is now aiming to get more minutes under his belt."It was quite weird to be on the same pitch as them", he said. "I am used to watching these players on the TV and now I am in among them.
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