Amad sent encouraging Rangers message after Manchester United loanee suffers setback

Former Tottenham Hotspur and Scotland defender Alan Hutton believes Manchester United youngster Amad will benefit from having been taken out of the firing line at loan club Rangers.

With first-team opportunities at Old Trafford having proved to be hard to come by for the Ivory Coast international, he joined Scottish giants on Rangers on loan for the remainder of the season in last month's transfer window.

After making the dream start to life north of the border, scoring just five minutes into his debut during a thrilling 3-3 draw with Ross County, the winger, who joined United from Italian heavyweights Atalanta just over a year ago, was like a rabbit in the headlights when Rangers were thumped 3-0 by arch rivals Celtic just a few days later and was taken off at half-time.

Amad has not started a Scottish Premiership match since, racking up just 22 minutes worth of action in the Gers' last three league games.

With chances having been at a premium recently, the youngster featured in a behind-closed-doors friendly on Monday and scored twice as Rangers drew 2-2 with Brentford.

Having shown what he is capable of, albeit in much more low-key circumstances, Hutton believes he will come back stronger after an "eyes wide open moment" in the Old Firm derby against Celtic.

Hutton told Football Insider : "I do feel sorry for him.

"We can obviously see that he's a talented young man. He's come up from Man United – big price tag, big profile.

"I just think it was an eyes wide open moment for him against Celtic, he realised just how hard it can be in Scotland after hitting the ground running against Ross County.

"The manager has just taken him out of the firing line and is being careful with him now. He's going to have to manage