Hamilton Advertiser

Fergie:lowry canbeprope­r Rangerssta­r

- PAUL THOMSON

Barry Ferguson reckons fellow Lanarkshir­e lad Alex Lowry has the potential to follow in his footsteps to become a“proper Rangers player.”

Hamilton native Fergie – who spent 13 years at Ibrox across two spells –has been impressed by the Uddingston teen’s breakthrou­gh season with the Rangers first team.

Lowry’s stock is soaring after he followed up a contract extension until 2025 with back-to-back man of the match displays in last week’s wins over Ross County and Hearts in the Scottish Premiershi­p, the latter of which he scored in.

And Ferguson, who was speaking exclusivel­y to the Advertiser ahead of Rangers playing in last night’s Europa League final, admits he can understand some similariti­es being drawn between himself and the 18-year-old.

He said:“i’ve seen the young kid play and he has the potential to be a proper Rangers player.

“He is still young, he still needs to get his head down, work hard and keep his feet on the ground - and if he does that Rangers will have a real player on their hands.

“I can see similariti­es in terms of him being a similar age to when I broke into the first team and became a regular.

“He’s got great awareness, he’s got a goal in him and what I really like is that he wants the ball all the time.

“I love to see that with young players. He’s not scared to take the ball in difficult situations and there’s nothing better than seeing a young boy flourish.

“That’s what I want to see and, for me, it makes it even better when it’s a Lanarkshir­e boy.”

Lowry has shown a Fergie-esque confidence on the ball in the centre of midfield, with an eagerness to take possession and produce those defence splitting passes.

And Ferguson added:“i really enjoy watching him play.

“I want to see local guys do well and I really believe if he listens to the experience­d players, he listens to his manager then Rangers will have a proper player on their hands.”

Lowry could be handed a chance in Saturday’s Scottish Cup final at Hampden against Hearts.

He made his first team debut in January in a 4-0 Scottish Cup fourth round win over Stirling Albion and has gone on to make seven appearance­s for the senior side, in amongst some sparkling displays for the club’s B team in the Lowland League.

 ?? ?? Talent Alex Lowry, right, is hailed by Scott Arfield after his goal aginst Hearts
Talent Alex Lowry, right, is hailed by Scott Arfield after his goal aginst Hearts

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