With the Premiership title all-but gone and the small matter of a Europa League Final to consider, Giovanni van Bronckhorst rotated his Rangers squad for Sunday's victory over Dundee United.
One of those who benefited from a selection switch-up was Leon King.
The teenage centre-back's name has frequently appeared on team sheets since the turn of the year and fans have been eager to see why he's so highly regarded in the Rangers academy.
King's name has consistently been among the first to be mentioned in discussions around Rangers ’ next big thing and his progression through the academy points to a player who has the potential to be just that.
But how has he progressed to the brink of becoming a key first team player?
Here, Record Sport Online charts his Rangers journey so far.
Who is he?
King, from Glasgow, joined Rangers at just five years old having been picked up at one of the club's training camps and it's no secret he grew up a massive fan.
“It’s always been Rangers for me," he said upon renewing his contract earlier this year.
Standing at over six feet and with the physique of an older player, King is already a presence. But he marries those attributes with a calmness and confidence which also belies his age.
Having been nurtured through the Rangers academy over so many years, the centre-back also looks comfortable and technically sound on the ball.
Rise through the academy
Such was his promise, King was handed a debut for Rangers' development squad (now the B team) at just 14 years old.
Pictures from his very early days in the academy show a youngster who was, physically, well ahead of most his age and it's that height and build which likely played a part in the decision to expose him to a higher standard of football at such an early stage.
Since then, he's been known as one of the top prospects in the academy, even well before he signed a first professional deal at 16.
Such excitement around a youth player doesn't arise too often and his is a profile comparable to that of Billy Gilmour and John Fleck before him, given his rapid progression and how acutely aware supporters have been made of his potential.
Exposure to the development squad was tough, initially, as noted by Graeme Murty, given King was now being pitted against senior professionals.
The former Rangers coach noted a particularly chastening experience against Carlisle United reserves in 2019.
He said: “Our two young centre-halves – 15 and 16 years old by the way – have had to play against mature athletes and they’ve been in a situation where for once they haven’t been able to be the fastest and the strongest and the most physical, and they’ve had to get their set-up right and had to get into position before the problems become a crisis.
“They didn’t manage to do that on two occasions and better feedback than me actually telling them stuff is for it to actually happen to them on the pitch. So they see now, ‘ah, I see the set up we need to have, I need to get this position right, otherwise we’re going to get punished at a higher level’. They saw that today and it’s an invaluable experience for them."
Steven Gerrard was believed to have taken a keen interest in King's development and it was he who eventually handed him his first-team debut.
Since then, he's increasingly flitted between playing a key role for the B team and being involved in senior match day squads, where it's fair to say he's already surpassed the likes of Jack Simpson in the pecking order.
With Connor Goldson seemingly bound for the exit door this summer and decisions to be made over the futures of Nikola Katic, it could be the time for King to become a permanent fixture in Van Bronckhorst's squad.
What's been said about him?
Upon giving King his senior bow in a League Cup win over Falkirk in 2020, former manager Gerrard insisted afterwards the defender had more than earned his chance.
He said: “We want to be able to give these opportunities out to the kids, but the kids have got to come with us and they have got to be good enough and Leon has been superb in training.
“The biggest compliment I can pay him for his age and where he is at is he hasn’t looked out of place in training, so that wasn’t a sentimental substitution tonight – he has earned it by training really well among his peers at first-team level.”
When Filip Helander went down injured against St Mirren in April, Van Bronckhorst turned to King instead of Leon Balogun, with the manager then echoing his predecessor in emphasising how the teenager had earned the chance to play.
“Leon is training really well and is playing really well for the B team," Van Bronckhorst said. “So today we wanted to give him the chance to be in the team and he brought what we think he can bring.
“He has so much quality but also a lot of room to improve.
“But that’s because he’s a young player and I’m happy he’s making the progress is now.”
After King penned his new deal in January, sporting director Ross Wilson emphasised the need for prospects such as him to have a clear pathway into the first team
Wilson said: “Leon is a great kid and one that I’m delighted will continue on his journey at Rangers.
“Over the last couple of seasons Leon has already played in the Rangers first-team and had significant training exposure with our first-team group.
"He’s handled everything that we’ve challenged him with so far, and the support that he’s received across the club to aid his development has been excellent.
“It’s important that every one of our young players at this stage has a clear plan and for Leon he will now move into the first-team group under Giovanni van Bronckhorst on a permanent basis between now and the end of the season.”
King moved forward on that pathway with a first start in Sunday's win over Dundee United and his performance turned heads among pundits, with Neil McCann insisting he "strolled it".
His display also earned a comparison to club hero Craig Moore.
McCann said: "Leon King's strolled it, he's looking a wee bit like Craig Moore to me.
"I'm not saying that he's a Craig Moore right now, but he's got the same type of (attributes)
"Craig Moore wasn't a big physical centre-back in terms of he wasn't 6'4", but he was aggressive, strong built, good in the four, good on possession of the football and he could pass.
"Leon's had a really good 45 minutes for his debut."
Transfer interest?
King reportedly knocked back interest from Manchester United and Newcastle to sign his new deal at Rangers.
It was also revealed back in December that Aston Villa and Gerrard were keeping a keen on the teenager's situation before he signed an extension at Ibrox.
Had he not renewed, King could've moved to Villa Park or elsewhere for as little as £200,000.
It's been reported that both Chelsea and Liverpool had King watched while playing for the development squad.
But a contract until 2024 now ensures any potential suitors would have to bring considerable cash to the table.
