On Tuesday night at Lesser Hampden, two days after a head-to-head encounter in the League Cup final with neighboring rivals Celtic and Belgium. Rangers They met in the Glasgow Cup final.
competition, It was first contested in 1887a youth championship since the 1990s, with the city's two top clubs winning the cup every time since Partick Thistle's triumph in 1989.
This time, it was Rangers who prevailed 3-2, extending their record with this being the 59th time the Glasgow Cup has headed to Ibrox.
More importantly, the team’s fans have become excited about one of the stars of this victorious team. Could he break into the first team in the near future?
Rangers' next teenage sensation
Zach Lovelace was born in London and began his career with the youth team Millwallbefore Joining Rangers Academy in July 2022.
In the pipeline
Football FanCast's In the Pipeline series aims to uncover the best young players in world football.
Upon arrival, now ex described athletic director Ross Wilson Lovelace as an “exciting young player”.
However, he did not make the best first impression to the wider fanbase, as he was sent off for emulation during the 2023 Scottish Youth Cup at Hampden, live on the BBC, a match in which his side would lose 6-5 to Celtic.
But this time, it was Lovelace who was the hero, scoring a very late winner in the Glasgow Cup final on Tuesday.
Rangers manager Philip Clement He was present At City Stadium, with Lovelace one of the players the Belgian is reported to be monitoring closely.
The 18-year-old has already featured for the Light Blues' first team under Clement.
last year, He came off the bench during Michael Bell's last match in charge of the team, a 3-1 loss at home to… Aberdeenbefore kicking off a 3-0 win at St Mirren during Steven Davis' all-too-brief spell as caretaker manager.
'Tis the season, Lovelace It made its debut in Europewas introduced as a substitute in the final quarter at 4-0 European League Defeating Steaua Bucureşti, despite this being his only first team appearance during the season so far.
So, could he start appearing more regularly in the near future?
Where Zach Loveless could fit in with the Rangers
Writer Kay Watson Compare Lovelace's winner in the Glasgow Cup final to Daizen MaedaA goal in the League Cup final, and given how much the Japanese winger has struggled for Rangers in recent seasons, the club's fans will be happy if their teenage sensation turns out to be even half as good.
In fact, Maida – who arrived in Glasgow in January 2022 – has done just that He scored four goals and provided four assists In his 17 Old Firm appearances to date, he has used his lightning pace to terrorize the Gers backline.
Perhaps Lovelace can use his similar traits to return the favor – as he did with his Maeda-esque finish in midweek – having previously been praised as a “A very exciting player and fast forward“Written by former Academy President, Craig Mulholland.
With the goal of the teenage diamond now forcing his way into Clement's plans on a regular basis, here's a look at how the Light Blues' current wingers have performed this season and why Lovelace could start to feature more prominently soon.
As shown, apart from Vaclav Czerny, none of Rangers' forwards have provided much of a finished product so far this season, with the Czech international, along with strikers Cyril Desires and Hamza Igamani, being the only members of the squad. To score more than five goals Across all competitions.
Therefore, Lovelace could be pushed on, something Rangers have proven they are not afraid of in the past, making Ross McCausland A major character last season While the Northern Irishman's role is somewhat diminished this time around, He scored a crucial goal off the bench During the Europa League win in Malmo in September.
Over the festive period and beyond, the fixtures will come thick and fast for the Light Blues, with 13 games to be played over a 43-day period between Saturday and February 2.
In mid-January, just four days before the visit to Old Trafford, Rangers host Highland League side Fraserburgh, so surely Lovelace is on track to start when the fifth-tier side visit Ibrox, if not before?
If Clement turns to his young star, he may have his own Maeda to call upon moving forward.
