Kai Kennedy admits Rangers mistakes by acting like a wee boy but one time wonderkid is adamant he's grown

Wonder kid. The tag every young Scottish footballer wants. Until it becomes an albatross around their neck.

When the burden of expectation eventually weighs them down. And instead of being a wonder kid they’re left to wonder just where it all went wrong. The challenge then, of course, is how they react. That’s when you find out what they’re really made of. If they’re mentally strong, if they can show character and resilience to fight their way back up. Sometimes that’s the toughest part of all.

But you get the feeling that Kai Kennedy can. This summer the 21-year-old left Rangers almost unnoticed. Yet, three years ago, everyone in Europe knew who he was. In fact, most big clubs in the UK and abroad wanted to sign him. At 18 he was training with Steven Gerrard’s first-team at Ibrox. Manchester City and Bayern Munich were sniffing around – and West Ham United would later see a £600,000 bid rejected.

The hype around Kennedy was real. And he admits now that he struggled to deal with it.

In summer 2020 he should have been heading to Lyon for a pre-season tournament with Rangers. Instead, after refusing to sign a new contract, he was turfed out on loan to Inverness Caley Thistle.

All of a sudden, Kennedy was alone in the Highlands during Covid times. And instead of linking up with James Tavernier & Co at Ibrox he was watching balls fly over his head against Arbroath at Gayfield.

This wasn’t in the career plan. Further loans at Raith Rovers, Dunfermline, Hamilton Accies and Falkirk followed. And before he knew it the youngster was being released.

Most people probably don’t even know the former Ibrox kid signed for ambitious National League outfit York City last week. But rather than wallow in self-pity, Kennedy is excited.