I’ll be your man in the Middleton
IN-FORM TEEN EYES CENTRAL ROLE Gers kid Glenn vows to solve Gerrard’s striking problem in semi-final
THE Rangers kid has got the name and Glenn Middleton is sure he’s got the game to be the man in the middle for the Ibrox side.
Middleton, 18, is carving out a reputation as top wide boy in Govan after a string of star showings on the flank from the bench before firing a stunning double on his first start for the club in Wednesday’s 4-0 Betfred Cup victory over Ayr United at Ibrox.
The youngster is thriving under Steven Gerrard and reckons he might be able to do a turn for his gaffer up front in their last-four clash with Aberdeen next month.
Alfredo Morelos talked himself out of the cup clash after landing a bonkers booking in Wednesday night’s quarter-final to add to his yellow card in the previous round against Kilmarnock.
With Kyle Lafferty cup-tied from his time at Hearts, the Colombian has left Gerrard with the prospect of heading to Hampden without a recognised frontman.
Umar Sadiq is still kicking around but the manager’s revelation the Roma loanee needs to do a lot of improving suggested the targetman is so far out in the cold he’d need a blow torch to thaw out.
Middleton, in contrast, is hot property and convinced he can step on to centre stage if his gaffer comes calling.
The Scotland Under-21 ace said: “Everyone has got their own case. It’s just about us doing our bit in training and giving the manager a decision to make.
“I played as a striker when I was younger – it was my position and like any forward I love scoring goals.
“Mind you I need to work on my goal celebration, the second one didn’t exactly go to plan! But it would mean everything to me to be involved. I am as desperate as anyone to get this club back and win a trophy.
“We will need to see what happens. We have a really good squad now and I think everyone can see that.
“We have two or three top players in every position. So it’s up to us to give the best performance we can.”
Middleton is doing his part after being let off the leash against Championship leaders Ayr following 10 appearances from the bench.
The kid played a key role late on in the Europa League draw in Villarreal and was in heaven after Gerrard gave him the nod in the Betfred Cup.
Middleton said: “The manager just told me to give the right back pure hell.
“I’m always going to go at someone as that’s just what I do. I’m not going to say I am the most technical player in the world because I’m not.
“I’m just lucky to have good players in the team that help me out and I have been lucky the manager has been really good with me.
“The manager has been brilliant, it’s been a dream come true to get into the first team and the players and staff have all been very, very good with me.”
Middleton superbly slammed in his double with Andy Halliday brilliantly supplying the ammunition on both occasions.
The former Norwich product – who was brought to Glasgow by former Canaries youth coach and Rangers stand-in boss Graeme Murty – admitted it was a special night but he’s hungry for more.
He said: “It is definitely one of the best. It was a very good night for me personally but definitely for the team getting through to the semi-final.
“It is one step closer to what we want to achieve. Andy has played two great balls through to me – the first one, it’s just a case of letting it run through to my body and just getting as close to goal as I can before shooting.
“For the second one, it’s the same and it was just about getting the touch away from the defender and having a shot.
“I was really happy with it. I could have had a hat-trick but I got a little bit too excited!
“I just rushed my first touch but hopefully if I get another chance, it comes.
“It’s just the case of taking the chance to show the manager can trust me in any situation. Everything just adds up.
“I keep doing things bit by bit and it seems to be going in the right direction.
“We know as a squad what it means to this club to win trophies and we are one step closer to that now. We just need to keep this momentum going – every game matters.”
Middleton would love a crack at the semi – and he doesn’t care where it’s played.
All four clubs will head to Hampden on Sunday October 28 after the SPFL unravelled a fixture mess with Celtic and Rangers both involved in Europa League action just 48 hours before the first scheduled semi.
Neither was willing to play on the Saturday, forcing the suits into a rethink, but Middleton would have played at Glasgow Green so long as he gets the opportunity to be involved.
He said: “I’ve never played at Hampden before but I have been to a few Scotland games so it would be great to play there.
At the end of the day it’s just a football pitch and all we want to do is win the game.”