For decades, even when Rangers were spending small fortunes, the first team was littered with players who came through the youth set up.
Walter Smith had players like Neil Murray playing key Champions League games whilst Dick Advocaat built his team around Barry Ferguson.
Philippe Clement is now in charge of Rangers and, by playing academy prospects like Robbie Fraser, he could save the club a fortune.
Rangers could save a fortune by promoting Robbie Fraser
When the final whistle blew at Ibrox against Dundee, Clement had given opportunities to Leon King, Cole McKinnon, Robbie Fraser and Ross McCausland.
All of them made a positive contribution and demonstrated why Auchenhowie is an almost untapped resource.
The prime example is Robbie Fraser.
In recent weeks and months, there has been an issue at left-back.
Dujon Sterling was forced to fill in and Borna Barisic has looked like a player who is leaving at the end of the season.
Hindsight is a wonderful thing, but after seeing his display against Dundee, Clement must be shaking his head as to why he didn’t blood the B team skipper sooner.
Loyalty is an underrated quality and, as a diehard bluenose, Fraser was clearly keen to impress:
“It is a huge moment for me, I have been at the club for 14 years, so I have been through it all. It is not only a huge moment for me but for my family, my friends and the people that are close to me.
“It is something you dream of as a young boy coming on at Ibrox and to get three points in front of the fans, it doesn’t get much better.
“The gaffer just said that he believed in me, he liked what he saw, and he just said go and be positive and do what I’ve been doing.
“I felt I did that but of course, I still look at my game and there’s moments to improve. I’ll keep chipping away like I have always done.
“I have been very patient, and it is something that I pride myself on, being patient, chipping away, keeping working hard and hopefully the rewards will come and it was a huge moment for me tonight.”
Decision Clement has to make as Barisic gets set to leave
For players like Fraser, King, McKinnon and McCausland, Rangers matters, they would do anything for the club, having grown up as fans.
At 21-years old, Fraser is at a crossroads and is out of contract in the summer.
He will no doubt have plenty of offers from around the SPFL, but the fact that Rangers didn’t notice the departure of Ridvan Yilmaz, even though he was kept on longer than recommended, spoke volumes about how well he played.
When Barisic has been replacing Ridvan almost all of the attacking threat from the left-hand side has disappeared in recent weeks.
On a reported £21,000 per week or £1m per year, the Croatia international looks to be heading to Trabzonspor despite a late offer from Dinamo Zagreb.
There will be temptation, but Clement shouldn’t look to replace him, he should do what managers before him have done and trust the academy and promote Robbie Fraser.
After 14 years, he’s earned it.
