RANGERS youngster Leon King has revealed the words of widsom he received from the likes of Allan McGregor and Jermain Defoe after being promoted to the first team by Giovanni van Bronckhorst.

The highly-rated defender made his senior debut against Livingston in the second last game of the 2020-21 campaign and is now on the outskirts of the senior team at Ibrox.

The 17-year-old said that Van Bronckhorst called him during the winter shutdown to inform him of the promotion and has hailed McGregor and Defoe for the tips they have provided.

"Getting moved up to the first team at Rangers was massive and I didn’t know much about it before it happened," King admitted to the Scottish Sun.

"I was meant to report back with the B team on January 3, then I got the call to say come back a few days later.

"I have now moved into the first-team dressing room and I am sitting next to Greegsy [McGregor].

"He came through the academy too and I am enjoying every moment of it so far. Does he give me advice? Aye, he does. That’s all I’ll say!

"It’s the same with all the experienced defenders at the club too. It’s good to have guys like that around me.

"I have also learned going up against the different strikers — like Alfredo Morelos, Kemar Roofe and Jermain Defoe.

"It can be tiring, mentally and physically, but that’s what you want as a young player.

"You want to be up against the best in the country, and these guys have all been at high levels in their careers.

"Training against them every day is only going to make you better.

"Jermain has talked me through training at times. I’ve been up against him in small-sided games and he’s been great.

"He’d say, ‘Don’t get too tight’, ‘Do this and do that’. You are going to listen as it’s Jermain Defoe — he’s been there and done everything.

"If someone like that talks, you are always going to listen."