King keen to be pretender to Goldson’s Ibrox throne

AMID a busy summer of ins and outs at Rangers, the deal that placed the biggest smile on Leon King’s face had nothing to do with the transfer market.

The 18-year-old centre-back regards Connor Goldson as the biggest influence on his promising young career. His counsel is invaluable. Therefore, Goldson’s decision to sign a four-year contract extension delighted King more than the most ardent Ibrox fan.

You could argue the teenager might have moved up the pecking order had Goldson departed. King, though, places a far higher value on the stalwart’s influence as he looks to follow up on last season’s first-team breakthrough.

‘It’s massive to have someone like Connor in the club still,’ insisted King ‘He’s been a rock for the last few years, so it’s something that I aspire to be.

‘He plays in the position I want to be in, so I want to follow that. You see how pivotal he is for us.

‘He’s really good with the young lads. It can be nervous coming into that first-team environment but they all make you feel at ease.

‘I would say especially Connor from my point of view, because he’s taken me under his wing and he’s always trying to help me.’

Asked if keeping Goldson could be one of Rangers’ best deals this summer, King replied: ‘It could. Especially with how big he has been for us in the last few seasons.

‘It was amazing to see him sign on again. And it attracts bigger players to come to the club, which is only going to make you better when you are training with them every day.’

A Rangers supporter, King made six appearances for the club last term, with Goldson there to guide him through four of them.

The youngster turned down interest from English clubs to agree a new contract until 2024 during last season.

The signings of Ben Davies and John Souttar have since made central defence an even more competitive area but King (right) views the forthcoming campaign as huge on a personal level.

‘It is going to be pivotal, I think,’ he continued. ‘I’m trying to kick on and get as many minutes and appearances under my belt as possible.

‘If that’s me pushing the other lads to play better or that’s me taking their spot, then I’m all for that.

‘Obviously the manager has shown his trust in me in games last season. We have a good relationship, but then all the boys have a good relationship with the coaching staff. It’s about taking your chance when you get it.’

King also finds inspiration in the stunning rise of Calvin Bassey, whose performances during the second half of last season earned him a £20million move to Ajax.

‘The improvements and the journey he’s been on for the past six months is mad,’ enthused the teenager.

‘It’s something every young player obviously wants to do — to get into the first team and kick on to become a regular starter. It’s amazing.’

King’s right arm bears a tattoo stating ‘Mind Over Matter’. It’s something of a reference point.

‘I’ve had it for a wee while,’ he smiled. ‘It was the first tattoo I ever got, so I think back to that when times get tough.

‘I just think, being a young boy, it’s all mental when you come into a first-team dressing room with experienced, senior players.

‘It’s about just trying to keep on the straight and narrow. Don’t get too ahead of yourself and don’t get too down.

‘At a club like this, it can be nerve-wracking sometimes going out there and playing in front of 50,000 fans. It’s not normal for someone of my age to be going and doing that.

‘It can get to you a wee bit but, obviously with the coaching staff, the support bubble around you and the other players, they make it a hell of a lot easier.’

Confident and articulate, King knows any self-doubt can’t be entertained for long.

‘At a club like Rangers, you need to believe in yourself,’ he said. ‘If you have that belief in yourself and you have the belief of your team-mates that they can trust you, then you can go all the way.

‘That’s what I am striving to do. I am trying to gain even more trust from the senior players.

‘Once you have their trust then I think you can go far in this club. ‘The senior players, the likes of Scotty Arfield, Connor, Tav (James Tavernier) and (Allan) McGregor, they all back you. And they are all great lads off the pitch as well.’

And the best bit of advice he’s been given?

‘Just to be myself,’ he added. ‘There’s no point trying to be someone you are not, that’s not you. They tell me to go out and express myself and do what I would do if it was a normal youth game.’