Rangers hero urges midfield star to sign new contract amid transfer speculation

Rangers hero Alan Hutton reckons Alex Lowry should stay at Ibrox to continue his development, amid transfer rumours linking him with a move to Newcastle United.

The Uddingston teenager, who is out of contract in the summer, has enjoyed a first team breakthrough this term since making an impressive debut in Rangers' Scottish Cup fourth round win over Stirling Albion in January.

And the 18-year-old has gone from strength to strength, featuring a further three times for the first team and regularly starring for the Rangers B team. He has also been an unused substitute for huge first team occasions, including the club's run to the Europa League semi-finals and last week's Scottish Cup semi-final win over Celtic at Hampden.

Lowry is tipped to have a big future in the game and that has reportedly attracted interest from the Magpies and elsewhere.

But former defender Hutton has advised the midfielder to snub a potential move out of Ibrox.

Hutton, who made a big move down south in 2008 when he made a £9million switch to Tottenham Hotspur, told Football Insider: “Obviously, the money situation is good. He’s at one of the best teams in Scotland that can pay wages, so that’s not the thing.

“It’s the pathway into the first team. We’ve all gone through that as youngsters, myself included when I was coming through. I’m looking at the team thinking I’m never going to get in there.

“It’s very difficult, they continuously buy players in. Of course, that will be a worry.

"Then again, I think wherever you go, if you’re a good player, whether you go down south or whatever, you have to fight for your place.

“You have to show the manager that you’re worthy of being in the team. It doesn’t matter wherever you go.

"I feel he definitely has