Rangers boss Steven Gerrard insists the club's young players remain firmly on his radar as he looks to the future.
The Ibrox kids won the SFA Youth Cup on Thursday night with a 3-2 win over Old Firm rivals Celtic .
Included in the teenage Gers side was Northern Ireland pair Kyle McClelland and Daniel Finlayson.
Gerrard is hoping to be the one who profits the most from the club's youth progress and he believes some of the young talents could save him a small fortune in the transfer market.
The former Liverpool skipper said: “I loved the final. It was a fantastic match and Celtic played their part in it as well.
“There was talent on show and it was a good game.
“I didn’t need to watch the game to know their ability though. About 60 per cent of that squad have been up training with us this season.
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“I watch their games and I followed the recent tournament in Qatar. The academy is in good shape and the boys are doing very well.
“The young players are certainly giving me something to think about.
“It will do them no harm, winning silverware. It’s all good, playing at Hampden, competing for trophies, playing in tournaments, going down south and testing themselves against Premier League opposition.
“This is all part of the development, part of the pathway, but the last and the most difficult jump is getting to first-team level, proving that you deserve to be there, proving you are good enough to stay there.
“And do you have all the parts to your game that are going to move a player out the way?
“That’s probably 300-400 games’ experience, which has also probably won them cups along that pathway as well.”
Gerrard insists progressing to the first-team must be the goal for the club's young starlets.
He said: “I’m very pleased with the whole academy in terms of their achievements so far and potentially what they’re going to achieve. That’s all fantastic and they deserve a lot of praise.
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“But that’s not my interest with all due respect. I wasn’t looking to see them lift a trophy.
“I’m obviously delighted for the kids, the experience of winning and playing at Hampden, it’s all great for them.
“But I’m looking for that one or two. I’m saying, ‘Where are they going to be in six months? Can they potentially stop me going into the transfer market during the next window or the window after?’”
Included in the Celtic team were Northern Ireland pair Liam Hughes and Ben Wylie.
Goalkeeper Hughes played the full match while midfielder Wylie came on as a 69th-minute substitute.
Interim Hoops boss Neil Lennon was also in attendance at the final.
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