Alex McLeish says a lack of guaranteed football may be why Ryan Kent opted against pursuing a move to Leeds United.
The Whites were keen on the Rangers winger in this transfer window as Marcelo Bielsa looked to strengthen his options out wide.
Rangers rejected Leeds' initial bid for Kent but there was still plenty of speculation that a deal could be done by the time the transfer window shuts in early October.
Yet those hopes were effectively dashed when Kent indicated he was happy at Ibrox and would not be agitating for a move to the Whites.
Former Gers boss McLeish believes Kent's decision could well have been due to the development he has already shown under manager Steven Gerrard.
"Well, if I’m looking at the Premier League and the strength of the squads they have down there and the level of the football they’re playing at then I would think he would kind of be in the rotation order, I don’t know if he would be an absolute first-choice for Bielsa every single week," McLeish told Football Insider.
"Maybe he sees that could be the case, who knows?
"Steven’s probably had chats with him as well and told him maybe similar things or he doesn’t feel ready yet.
"Players can have that attitude as well but he’s a player who will surely gather in confidence the more he plays, the more little tricks he learns, the more he’ll see his speed and his cleverness can outwit a defender.
"Once he starts doing that absolutely every single week then Rangers won’t want to see him out of the team."
