It’s easy to forget that Rangers defender Leon King is just 20 years old.

The centre-back has been on the first team scene at Ibrox since he was 16. Steven Gerrard handed him his debut in the League Cup against Falkirk in 2020.

King has made just 30 appearances since his first game though, as he admits it’s been tough to adapt from playing regularly to not getting a sniff.

In more recent times he’s featured for the B team, but last week did feature at the heart of Philippe Clement’s defence as Rangers drew 2-2 with FC Copenhagen in a friendly.

He’s determined to fight for his place in the starting XI at his boyhood club after a much-needed chat with the manager in La Manga earlier this month.

“To be honest, no,” the Scotland U21 international said when asked if he’d thought about a loan move. “I’ve just been concentrating on myself and bettering myself in training.

“The manager is big on the boys who aren’t playing pushing the boys who are in training.

“I feel as though we’re a lot closer now in terms of the boys who come into the team compared to those starting. I’m just really enjoying myself at the moment and long may that continue.

“Obviously it’s difficult when a new manager comes in because you don’t know what to expect. You don’t know if you’ll still be here, you don’t know what the script is really.

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“But he was really good with me. He was open, he was honest and he told me he wanted me to stay and fight for my place.

“Last year was difficult as I had quite a lengthy time not playing games. So it was really nice to get back out there playing in front of the fans at Ibrox.

“Now I just need to repay that faith the manager has shown in me by putting me back in the squad.

“Modern-day football is about your ability to be versatile and play different positions.

“I’ve always looked to be able to play in different positions because ultimately it helps you get a game at the end of the day. So it’s great that I can fill in a lot of different roles if the manager needs me.

“I’ll play anywhere. Every young boy just wants to play football so if you’re not, it can be difficult. I just need to keep my head down but I’ll play anywhere the manager needs me to.”

With injuries sustained by the likes of Connor Goldson, Ben Davies, Filip Helander and John Souttar last season, King played in Rangers’ six Champions League group-stage games under Giovanni van Bronckhorst.

He started at centre-back, for the most part, alongside James Sands as the Ibrox club were taught some harsh lessons by Liverpool, Napoli and Ajax.

Since that run in the team, King’s exposure to first-team football has regressed, however, it’s not something that he’s found difficult to take, rather he’s used it as fuel to help inspire his next lot of games.

He said: “I wouldn’t so it’s hard. You just have to adapt. Obviously I was thrown into those games at a really young age but I’m grateful for those experiences. It’s only going to help me in my career if we get to that stage again.

“But it’s just about how you adapt in these situations. Sometimes you will play, sometimes you won’t. It’s about taking your chance when they come.

“I’m still really young in terms of a football age so I just need to keep my head down and work as hard as I possibly can and push myself every day in training.

“It’s ultimately up to me to give the manager a decision to make on who he plays.

“I’ve got a great support network around me. I’m really close to my family and the lads at the training ground really help you, too.

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“A lot of the senior boys helped in that aspect. They can see you’ve played in these really high-profile games, then you’ve come out and not played as much.

“They’re really good on a day-to-day basis. They’ll put their arm around you when you need it.”

King has just three appearances to his name this season, all coming on league business. With the challenge of Hibernian at Easter Road lying ahead tomorrow night, he’s hopeful he could play a part.

It’s been well-documented that Clement sat down with each of his first team squad in Spain on the club’s recent winter training camp. And the defender was pleased with what he learned from that conversation, with the Belgian keen for him to stay.

He added: “Everyone’s talks went really good, me especially. I was really happy when I came out of the talk with the manager.

“He said to be patient and fight for my spot here. That’s what I’m going to do.

“It takes a lot of pressure off your shoulders and you can go and be yourself really. But it’s about keeping my head down and trying to get more appearances this season.

“He [Clement] has been really good in that aspect. He mentioned a time when he was playing centre-back for his club but centre-mid for his country – and vice-versa.

“I’ve down as well so it’s obviously nice he knows the situation I’m in and he can help with that aspect.”

Leon King was supporting the Topps Match Attax Launch of the 2024 SPFL collection at Hampden Park. The 354 card collection is available now in stores across Scotland and at Topps.com #matchattax #spfl #scottishfootball