Leon will have learned from these setbacks but others should also reflect on their performances
Former Rangers defender CRAIG MOORE knows what King has gone through but believes he has the ability to bounce back
Craig Moore reckons Leon King has the desire and the ability to go all the way to the very top.
But, right now, it’s about the Rangers teenager showing he has the mentality and character to come through what has been an amazing, but difficult, seven-week period.
King was thrust into the Champions League in the heart of a Light Blues defence shorn of experienced players due to injury.
He had it tough as Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s men suffered heavy defeats to Ajax, Napoli and Liverpool.
But the 18-year-old acquitted himself well, and showed enough to suggest he will be a major part of the first-team squad for seasons to come.
When Moore broke into the Ibrox top team under Walter Smith, he had similar experiences to King in European defeats to Juventus and Ajax.
Indeed, his Champions League debut was in the Stadio delle Alpi as the likes of Fabrizio Ravanelli
Thinking back, I had a really tough couple of nights, but there was no time to feel down
and Alessandro del Piero had a field day in the Italians’ 4-1 win.
However, then just 19, the Australian kept on learning and improving, and went on to play in the nine-in-a-row success and captain the club.
Moore, now 46, told The Sunday Post: “Very early in my career, I was in the team that lost heavily in Europe.
“Thinking back, I had a really tough couple of nights, but there was no time to feel down or deflated.
“You just had to be grown up about it all, and get on with your career.
“I had an experienced manager in Walter Smith, and players such as Ally Mccoist and Stuart Mccall in and around me.
“I looked for as much help as possible, and wanted to be educated and guided.
“From the experiences I had from that early age, I had to learn very quickly. Nobody was going to wait around for me.
“It will be the same for Leon King. The young man has been involved at some stage in the six Champions League games.
“Despite the results, the whole experience will have been incredible for him. He’ll have had to pinch himself.
“If we are being honest, he got into the team because of injuries and suspensions, but he still would have had to show qualities to the manager.
“Sure, he made a couple of mistakes here and there in the games, but that was to be expected considering the quality of opponent he was up against.
“I don’t mind youngsters making mistakes. It happens. The best in the world don’t always get it right especially when they are 17, 18, 19 years old. and “It’s learn all about from it. how you recover
“It’s also important that the manager retains his trust in you and I’m sure Giovanni will still total faith in Leon.
“Senior players should also been looking out for him, and I’m sure
Steven Davis, Connor Goldson, James Tavernier and others will be guiding his every step.
“There is no doubt that Leon has the ability and desire to play for Rangers – and play for many years to come at Ibrox.
“What he needs to display in the next few weeks is character and the right mentality, to show he’s learned from the Champions League and is ready to go again. I’ve no doubt he will tick all the boxes, and he will be at Rangers for as long as he wants to be.
“He has the right aggression, and he also tackles very well. I like what I’ve seen.
“The early signs are that he can go on to become a fantastic player for Rangers.”
Moore also thinks it’s not just about the youngsters learning from the past two months. The senior players must also take stock.
He stressed: “People will look at Leon King and Alex Lowry and talk about their learning curve.
“I agree, and that assessment is fair enough.
“But the more-experienced players must also reflect and evaluate.
“James Tavernier, John Lundstram, Ryan Kent and many more should be assessing what they contributed, and where they can improve for the future.
“That is only natural, and I’m sure Giovanni and his staff will be going through lots of details with the whole squad.
“There is no doubt the Champions League was a massive step up for Rangers. They just weren’t ready, but there is no disgrace in that.
“Hopefully, they are back in it next season and will be better equipped to give a better account of themselves. I’m sure they will.
“It’s also vital for the finances of the club to be in that tournament every year. That goes without saying.”
Rangers finished bottom of their group, with the worst record in the competition’s history. So, unlike last year’s run to the Europa League Final, there will be no European football after Christmas.
It leaves them to focus fully on the domestic game, and do as well as possible in all three tournaments.
As always, winning the Premiership is the priority, and they will look to collect nine points from their three games before the break for the World Cup.
Moore hammered home that point, and said: “It starts away to St Johnstone.
“Perth is not an easy venue to go to, and Callum Davidson’s men are in good form after beating Kilmarnock and Hibs.
“But Rangers have only lost one league game all season, and that was away to Celtic. The team is still very much in there fighting, and ready to pounce.
“After St Johnstone, they play at home to Hearts and away to St Mirren. Nothing less than full points will suffice.
“If they can achieve that, then everyone can go off for a week or two, switch off and relax.
“They then all need to come back, ready for the battle ahead over the next six months.”