Leon King rapid Rangers rise put him 'two years ahead of schedule' and turned him into proper Scotland leader

Scot Gemmill reckons Rangers youngster Leon King is ahead of his time and already proving to be a natural leader of men.

The 20-year-old won his ninth cap for Gemmill’s Scotland U21 side in last week’s 4-1 thrashing of Kazakhstan in the Euro qualifiers. And Gemmill admits he’s has been impressed by his emergence at that level despite being two years younger than the majority of his team mates. King has become a key man for his country as they look to end a near 30-year wait to qualify for the Euros and has been utilised in midfield as well as in his more accustomed position in the centre of defence.

That’s despite his game time under Philippe Clement at Rangers being limited to just four appearances off the bench this season. Gio van Bronckhorst promoted King to the top team at Ibrox two years ago, predicting a “bright future” for the then 18-year-old who has gone on to make 35 appearances for the Light Blues. And, despite his lack of action at club level this season, Gemmill said: “I see the progress, for sure. Leon’s done great for us, at the end of last year he was playing in midfield.

“The important thing to remember is he’s two years younger than everyone else. He’s actually an ’04. That really says a lot for Leon in terms of the spell he had in the Rangers team and how he’s developing as a person and a player. To be in the U21s two years ahead of schedule really shows how highly regarded he is.”

Gemmill made King his captain in only his second U21 cap, a 1-1 draw with Northern Ireland in September 2022. Josh Doig and Liam Morrison have since regained the armband but that hasn’t dampened the on-field leadership qualities of the Ibrox academy graduate who, he says, has become one of his main commanders.

He said: