Rangers haven’t produced a regular goalscorer to come through the academy since Robert Fleck and, nearly 40 years later, we don’t seem to be any closer.
There have been a few players who have threatened to make the step and Gers boss Philippe Clement’s promotion of Ross McCausland has proven that a first team squad place awaits for those with the right attitude and ability.
Not many leave Rangers and go on to better things and, in Dapo Mebude, there is a talented youngster who can’t wait to get back.
Could Rangers return be a reality for Dapo Mebude?
Under Steven Gerrard, Mebude was part of the youth team that featured players like Billy Gilmour, Nathan Patterson, Kai Kennedy and Leon King.
Hopes were high that there would be a core of them make the step up to the first team on a regular basis but it has never quite worked out like that.
Gilmour left when the club was a shambles, if he’d waited another six months and for Steven Gerrard’s arrival, I always wonder if he might have made a different decision.
Patterson was sold for a then record fee, Kennedy got too big for his own boots – his words, not mine – and King has struggled to follow up his breakthough season as a teenager despite being a clearly talented player.
It was Dapo Mebude that Gerrard spoke highly of at the time and there were genuine hopes of a promotion to the first team:
“I think young Dapo has a huge future, he has big potential.
“He is probably not ready to be thrown into the deep end just yet but I think he will be ready for a cameo. There is no doubt about it, he will play for Rangers at some point.”
Mebude has wake up call
Fast forward a few years, a few loan spells and even more clubs and it hasn’t quite worked out like that.
The 22-year old has had something of an epiphany though after a near fatal car crash saw him realise what he has and the opportunity he is letting pass him by.
Now at Oostende, Mebude is intent on finally realising the potential that saw him a regular in Scotland youth teams up to Under-21 level as reported by The Athletic.
“One of my goals is to go back to Rangers one day. I would love to be the main man scoring goals at Ibrox. That’s my home.
“You don’t lose talent overnight or in a year or two. I’m a firm believer that if you work as hard as you can then everyone will achieve what they are meant to achieve, whether it is at (age) 21, 27 or 30.”
Mebude is right, but talent alone isn’t enough at Rangers.
For perspective, Ross McCausland has never been held in the same regard as the likes of Kennedy, Mebude or Alex Lowry and yet he has more appearances for Rangers than the three of them put together.
Hard work matters, as does attitude.
If anything good comes out of his brush with death, hopefully, it is that Mebude’s talent is put to good use so that we can welcome him back to Auchenhowie with open arms.
