Gemmill: King can crown it as leader
SCOT GEMMILL reckons Rangers kid Leon King is ahead of his time and already proving to be a natural leader of men.
The 20-year-old won his ninth cap for Gemmill’s Scotland Under-21s in last week’s 4-1 Euro qualifier thrashing of Kazakhstan.
And Gemmill admits he’s has been impressed by his emergence at that level despite being two years younger than the majority of his team-mates.
King has become a key man for his country as they look to end a near 30-year wait to qualify for the Euros and has been utilised in midfield as well as in his more accustomed position in defence.
That’s despite his game time under Philippe Clement being limited to just four appearances off the bench this season. Gio van Bronckhorst promoted him to the top team two years ago and he’s gone on to make 35 appearances for the Light Blues.
Gemmill said: “I see the progress. Leon’s done great for us, at the end of last year he was playing in midfield.
“The important thing to remember is he’s two years younger than everyone else. He’s actually an ’04.
“That says a lot for Leon in terms of the spell he had in the Rangers team and how he’s developing as a person and a player. To be in the Under-21s two years ahead of schedule shows how highly regarded he is.”
Gemmill made King captain in only his second Under-21 cap, a 1-1 draw with Northern Ireland in September 2022.
Josh Doig and Liam Morrison have since regained the armband but Gemmill added: “You can see he’s played first-team football and more than just a handful of games.
“It gives them such confidence and belief they naturally become leaders.”