‘One of Our Own’ is a series which will look at current academy prospects and the chance they have of making it at Rangers. First up is Leon King, a player who probably thought he had made it at the beginning of the season but has yet to register an appearance under new manager Michael Beale.
So who is he? Let’s look;
Name – Leon King
Age – 19
Nationality – Scottish
Position – CB
Michael Beale had stated that the minutes he received at the beginning of the season is probably what he should’ve had for the whole season. An injury crisis though meant Rangers had no chance but to throw the youngster in at the deep end.
He was only eighteen at the time of his appearances and despite maybe looking a little out of his depth at times, he always held his own and showed that he could be a real prospect for the future. So much so that Newcastle were rumoured to be interested in him.
He’s managed eleven SPFL appearances this season, including seven starts so let’s look at his numbers;
- 1.3 Tackles Per Game
- 1.6 Clearances Per Game
- 61% Ground Duels Won
- 52% Aerial Duels Won
Impressive numbers for a young lad who had never played at this level before. He shows an intelligence beyond his years with his positioning but it’s his decision making that lets him down at times. That’s the type of thing which will improve with experience though so it’s great for the Rangers coaching staff that the foundations are there.
With Rangers being a ball dominant side the CBs have to be capable passers and King definitely is that;
- 91% Pass Accuracy in Own Half
- 85% Pass Accuracy in Opposition Half
- 65% Long Ball Accuracy on 3.6 attempts per game!
These are passing numbers a midfielder would be proud of. The only thing missing from his game is his ability to bring the ball out from defence. Again, this is something which will come with time and confidence.
Leon King has all the foundations of the perfect modern day CB he just needs to sharpen the tools at his disposal. What do you think of Leon King? Will he make it at Ibrox?