GLENN Middleton went home and cried his eyes out after being informed of his release by Norwich City after five years in their academy. So it is nice to think that, somewhere down in East Anglia this morning, amongst the number of his old pals who have passed on their congratulations, someone is quietly sobbing away about their failure to see the clear potential which the 18-year-old underlined with a remarkable European debut in Villarreal on Thursday night.

The Ibrox side’s first continental group stage match for seven years was running away from Rangers when the teenager, fresh from scoring his first senior goal against Dundee last week, finished his warm up and entered the field just beyond the hour mark. Armed with a pep talk from his manager, with his first act he used that pace of his to sprint beyond Miguel Llambrich, the Villarreal full back earning a booking for the trouble. With the full back petrified to get tight to him, the next time he fed in Borna Barisic to provide the low cross which was steered in by Kyle Lafferty for Rangers’ second equaliser.

The coup de grace in a European debut of Roy of the Rovers proportions was so nearly provided when he lashed the sidenetting with a fierce left-foot shot. That was maybe too much to ask for. But the 18-year-old, who calls himself the kind of player who likes to “get on the ball and make things happen,” certainly did that.

“When something like that happens it would drive anyone on,” said Middleton, a Glasgow-born kid who was first taken to East Anglia by current Livingston manager Gary Holt then brought back north to his boyhood team by Graeme Murty. “But coming to this club was enough for me. Being a fan it has given me that extra little boost to push on. It’s now about proving to the coaches, the fans and myself, what I’m capable of doing.

“What you have done doesn’t really sink in until afterwards,” he added. “When you go in the pitch you are just trying to make an impact. After the game then you can enjoy it a little bit more. But I’ve been very grateful to the fans and glad they enjoy what I can do on the pitch.”

Considering the myriad ups and downs he has had in his young career to date, it is the positive attitude which Middleton exhibits which might be his greatest attribute. “That’s football for you, you can get the highs of Thursday night and then there are the low times as well. But I wouldn’t have had it any other way. Everything is not always going to be perfect. You can dream about how you want it to go and it to be fair it hasn’t gone that differently from the way I would have wanted it. I am very lucky.

“You have to back yourself. If you don’t then it’s pointless turning up. You have to show you’re capable of competing with the big boys at the club. I want to be consistent. It’s about keeping my levels up as high as I can and all the time.

“It was a great feeling at the start of the season when the manager said I would be part of the first team squad. But it was just the start. It’s obvious to say that but it’s true. I want to keep kicking on now. If I’m not going to get on and be positive and show what I can do it’s pointless putting me on.”