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Daily Record
Daily Record
Sport
Gabriel McKay

Alex Lowry set Rangers challenge by Gio van Bronckhorst as boss set for anxious wait on Ianis Hagi injury

Rangers manager Gio van Bronckhorst expressed his pride in debut hero Alex Lowry - then challenged him to get even better.

The youngster enjoyed a dream introduction to the first team in the Scottish Cup tie with Stirling Albion, bagging the opening goal after coming on for the injured Ianis Hagi.

The Scotland youth international impressed with his maturity, touch and range of passing, with his debut strike just the icing on the cake.

And he was singled out for praise by the Rangers manager after the final whistle, as the 18-year-old was told he can get even better and nail down a place in the team.

Van Bronckhorst told Premier Sports: "Of course taking off Hagi wasn't planned, but we could bring Alex into the game and you could see he was really enjoying his football.

"We're really impressed with him when he's trained with us and I think you saw today what he can bring to a squad.

"He's still a young player so he has many things to improve but I think if you see the game today he's at a good level already so we're ready to develop him even further.

"You want to give academy players a pathway to the first team and of course when I put him in it's because I have trust in him and his abilities.

"When he's performing like that he makes his manager very proud, not just me but the club and the academy.

"They're providing us with some good talents and hopefully we can continue to develop him."

The Dutch boss then gave an update on the fitness of Hagi, who was forced off early on with a knee injury.

Van Bronckhorst explained: "He's okay, he had a problem so we have to wait to see tomorrow what he actually has but so far I can't say anything about the injury."

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