Rangers boss Steven Gerrard was in attendance as the club's B team took on Ayr United in the SPFL trust trophy.
The young guns were being watched closely by the Ibrox boss just days after he mentioned that many of them were knocking on the first team door.
But it’s a player who wasn’t involved that could offer an insight into a potential solution to the centre back problem ahead of Thursday.
With Connor Goldson missing last Saturday’s game against St Johnstone due to Covid isolation, it’s unclear if he’ll be back for Thursday yet.
And it was then made worse when Swedish star Filip Helander had to be stretchered off during the second half of the clash at McDiarmid Park.
It means Leon Balogun is the only recognised centre back who is definitely available for the Europa League clash, with Jack Simpson not included in the tournament squad.
Homegrown rules meant the former Bournemouth defender missed out but it leaves Gerrard with a potential selection headache.
The likeliest option is to move Calvin Bassey into centre back and bring Borna Barisic into the starting lineup, and if Goldson is out that’s probably what he will go for.
But if Goldson doesn’t make it, then Brian Gilmour’s selection for the B team could hint at the inclusion of Kyle McClelland.
The centre back is B team captain and while many might think Leon King would be next in line, McClelland has been involved already this season.
The teenager travelled to Armenia with the squad and impressed out on loan at Falkirk last season.
Gerrard has spoken in the past about King’s potential although he hinted that he wasn’t quite ready to start at centre back for the first team.
His time in the first team has been at right back against Falkirk in the Betfred Cup and Livingston in the Premiership when Gerrard move James Tavernier into centre back for the latter instead.
He skippers Rangers B tonight against Ayr but McClelland’s absence could offer a potential solution for Gerrard and co.
