In January of this year, 17-year-old Leon King signed a new contract with Rangers. At the time, Sporting Director Ross Wilson stated the youngster would move into the first-team group on a “full-time basis” after a "significant" amount of time training with the squad.
The departures of Niko Katic, Jack Simpson and Leon Balogun this summer cleared a realistic pathway to the starting 11. As such, it felt only a matter of time before King was handed his real opportunity. Not only during end-of-season games or coming into matches with a win already secured.
John Souttar’s injury and Ben Davies’ disrupted start north of the border have accelerated the timeframe and Giovanni van Bronckhorst has trusted in the 18-year-old early on in the season.
It was telling that the manager introduced King from the bench when Rangers went down to 10 men against Napoli and at half-time in Ajax with his side 3-0 behind. Clearly, the manager trusts the young centre-back to introduce him into potentially precarious situations that other young players may be intentionally protected from.
An opportunity extended to the 2-1 win over Dundee United immediately before the current international break. With James Sands suspended for the upcoming trip to Liverpool and Davies still to play any minutes following his full debut against St Johnstone in early August, King was picked to partner Goldson.
The defender is comfortable on the ball and happy playing on his weaker left side. Against United, he completed 73 of 75 passes.
This is a non-negotiable under van Bronckhorst. Following a full pre-season this summer his side looks far more comfortable progressing the ball beyond opposition pressure. This is by no means a guarantee. During the manager's initial weeks in charge, an earlier home win over Dundee United saw passes restricted into the feet of holding midfielder Glen Kamara, catalysing limp build-up play through the thirds.
“We were just passing, passing,” the manager said at the time.
READ MORE: Could Rangers play Alfredo Morelos and Antonio Colak as a strike partnership?
“If we could not find Kamara we just passed it back. If we don’t find Kamara, we need other players to commit themselves. Today we didn’t do it as well as before. That’s why we struggled a little bit, especially in the first half.”
King fits the mould of a modern-day centre-back who can take on responsibility for moving the ball forwards, not solely reliant on midfielders completing that task for him.
For example, no player has averaged more deep progressions than Connor Goldson (10.67) in the squad this season. Deep progressions are defined as: “passes and carries into the opposition final third”.
Goldson averaged 5.43 in 2020/21, 6.06 in 2021/22 and as detailed, 10.67 after seven league games this season. It’s clear that van Bronckhorst wants his defenders to be aggressive and get the ball into the final third during domestic matches, particularly at home.
Off the ball, King made nine ball recoveries and demonstrated quick recovery pace throughout. When defending in a high line recovery pace is crucial. It’s something that Leon Balogun provided and Calvin Bassey took to a whole new level.
King doesn't boast Bassey's speed, but who does? What he has demonstrated is an ability to fulfil a difficult function by defending high and recovering dangerous situations when necessary.
Perhaps the biggest compliment you can pay a young defender is that you didn’t notice their performance. Not because it didn’t merit praise or attract attention, but due to its composed nature.
King hasn't played like an 18-year-old so far. When his contract was announced earlier this year, comments made by Craig Mulholland offer some indication as to why.
“His plan over a number of years has been very carefully managed and we have achieved several key objectives – maximising contact time via our Boclair Academy programme, appropriate player challenge playing and training several years ahead of his own age group, regular exposure to ‘best v best’ cross-border competition, early exposure at age 16 to playing against men’s first teams via our B Team project and a significant opportunity to train and learn from the first-team squad."
Such early exposure is allowing a positively quiet Rangers rise that is more than complimentary of King's assured early showings.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here