Devine hopes Kent can agree new deal to stay with Rangers next term
RYAN KENT is free to speak to other clubs.
The Englishman is out of contract in the summer and could sign a precontract with any interested party, any day he likes.
Understandably, that appears to be a daunting thought for thousands of Rangers fans.
It would probably be fair to say that Michael Beale would also be tearing his hair out should the 26- year- old decide to move on after five years at Ibrox, where he has been a key figure.
From a players’ perspective, Adam Devine is no different. The 19- yearold admits he would love to see the former Liverpool winger commit his future to Rangers.
The defender has come up against Kent in training. That experience has helped him to grow in belief that he can play first- team football for the club even at such a young age.
That is because Devine says Kent is the best player he has come up against in his budding career.
“I want Ryan to stay, 100 per cent. He is a great player,” said Devine, speaking to promote the new 2022/ 23 SPFL Match Attax collection.
“He’s difficult to play against in training. He has shown what he can do and hopefully he stays on.
“Coming up against him will improve me. He is the hardest player I have ever had to train against. You go into any game thinking if you can play against him, you can play against anyone.”
Another player that Devine has a lot of admiration for is Nathan Patterson. The former Rangers rightback has provided great inspiration for Devine. Aged 18, Patterson made his debut for the Ibrox side in a Scottish Cup tie. That was a little over three years ago.
From there, the sharp rise in his career has been nothing short of magnificent. He has scored in the Europa League, won the Premiership title, made his Scotland debut and earned life- changing money by moving to Everton last year.
However, no two players are the same, even if they do play in the same position. Devine says Patterson has given him the motivation to kick on, with the defender desperate for another taste of first- team action.
He said: “One hundred per cent I look at him for inspiration. He was only a few years older than me. It gives me a bit of drive that he was playing in the team at my age.
“He went into the team and stuck for a while. He was a great player and he played well when he was here.
“I spoke to him quite regularly. When I went up to the first team’s training he would help me through the sessions. He was a good role model.
“You just don’t want to stop playing. I can’t wait to get my next chance. Hopefully I’ll put on a good performance and stay in the team.”
Devine came through the youth
ranks at Ibrox. He has featured frequently for their “B” team over the past two seasons.
That Lowland League challenge has presented him with the chance to go up against experienced pros and ultimately, grown men.
That experience allowed him to gain vital minutes at left- back, to build on his versatility and become a better all- round defender.
It is something he feels has been immensely beneficial.
“The step up was hard. The intensity. It’s a lot quicker at first team level but the Lowland League helped me a lot and helped us as a group a lot,” he said.
“Charlie McCann, Alex Lowry, Leon King, we have all made that step up to the first team.”
On his experience with Rangers’ top stars, Devine wants more of the exhilarating feeling he got when stepping out on to the Ibrox turf.
It was a dream come true for both he and his family, who are die- hard Rangers supporters.
“It’s a bit nerve- racking,” he said. “The first 10 minutes or so and before the game you are a bit nervous, but once you find your feet you feel like that’s where you are meant to be. As a young boy, that’s where you want to be.
“It was early on in the game against Leverkusen. I can’t remember exactly what happened, but I did something not bad. At that moment I felt as if I should be playing here. I eased into the game and I think I did quite well.
“My family have put in a lot of work into my journey as well. It was a proud moment for them – they’re all massive Rangers fans.
“For me as a kid, it was my dream to play at Ibrox. I got to do that, so my family were delighted.
“The best bit of advice the gaffer has given is that wherever you play you need to be ready to take your chance. If you show that your capable of doing it in training then there’s no reason why he won’t pick you.
“I’ve played left- back a few times with the ‘ B’ team. So, it was reasonable for me. I loved playing there.”