SCOT LEONS ON BEALE OVER KING
Scot Gemmill insists he still has full faith in Leon King after talking to Rangers boss Michael Beale about the young Ibrox defender.
King has gone from playing in the Champions League earlier this season to turning out for Rangers B in the Lowland League last week.
But Gemmill reckons that has only made him a better player and had no hesitation in naming King in his Scotland Under-21 squad for the friendlies against Wales and Sweden in Spain later this month.
The 19-year- old was propelled into action this season against the cream of European football when he played all six games in the Champions League group stage.
It was a hugely steep learning curve as the Ibrox side set an unwanted record as the worst team in the tournament’s history.
But King has not featured for the Light Blues since Michael Beale replaced Giovanni van Bronckhorst, prompting Gemmill to have a chat with the Ibrox boss.
He said: “I have spoken to Michael Beale about Leon. It was nice to hear his thoughts.
“Young players have to show the character to h a nd l e di f f i cu l t moments.
“We speak about it a lot in terms of not getting too high with the highs and too low with the lows.
“They just need to keep trying to improve and to show that they have the character and personality
to deal with the good and the difficult moments.”
Gemmill has now been in charge of the Under-21s for six-and-a-half years and insists he is still as excited about his job as he sees his starlets progress into Steve Clarke’s senior team.
As he prepared for the start of the Euro 2025 qualifying campaign, Gemmill said: “Back in 2016 I would have been delighted to still be in this job now.
“I appreciate it now more than ever, getting to work with such talented players.
“I understand that I have a brilliant job and I am very lucky to do it.
“Every time I link up with the squad I get a buzz and the same feeling I got from the first squad.
“It’s a great feeling meeting up.
“I don’t have the proud dad moment or anything like that when I see the likes of Billy Gilmour or Nathan Patterson in the senior team.
“It is great to give them an opportunity but it is down to the players to get into the senior team.
“It’s just the job to get youngsters into the senior Scotland team and develop them.”