Bobby83

Whats the injury then? I don't think we will see him again this season.

So what is the deal now? Ive heard a hamstring? I really feel he is yet another Scottish youngster who will be robbed of a top career due to injury.

Oh well, likely last we'll here of him for a few months anyway. Surely if it wasn't serious they would have annouced it. suspiciously quiet.

What actually is it and when is he due back? Worrying considering he has spent so much time out in the past. Also is McCulloch is back before him he won't get his place back.

Then again, Smith has talked up young players then hung then out to dry. Im cautiously opptomistic about McCoist but think I may regret it.

Do you think Mccoist having described Fleck as a natural number 10 etc will be inclined to play him in his natural position regular next season, along with keeping Ness in the side and possible Hutton? In other words, will he be a young refreshing, pro good football and youth development manager or will have picked up Walters approach to the game?

Heres hoping but he will have alot of catching up to do.

We might be really missing a trick here. He'll be 20 turning 21 next season by the time Walter leaves and at that age your really up against it to make a career for yourself. Maybe a loan move until Smith is away?

Good luck lads. Really should have beaten Wales but can still win the competition.

Was that his own staff giving him lip at the tunnel?

From what ive heard hes the best young prospect we have. He must be almost 20 and yet to feature. He played for Scotland u21s this month so he can't be injured. Is he still in the u19s or what? Its a year since Walter said he would be the next to feature. http://www.<No links to this website>/football/spl/rangers/2009/11/29/jamie-ness-will-be-next-rangers-kid-to-get-first-team-action-says-boss-walter-smith-86908-21859269/

With lads like Hutton and Wylde coming through, what happened to Ness? Is he still injured? I know the lad had injury problems before which robbed him of a start last season but you'd think if hes still injured now then his chance to make an impact this season is over as he has fallen down the pecking order. Hes was supposed to be the best out of the age group aswell (including Fleck).

Hes going nowhere.

But if hea going to get about an hour of game time over the entire season (if that) then whats the point in him being here. He'll be 20 this season. Its ridiculous. I don't expect Fleck to get a proper run out when he comes back either. Yep. Real shame.

Kick in the teeth to the young midfielders imo. Coped well but never a centre mid. Just shows the extent Smith will go to avoid playing youngsters.

Seemed slow but ill reserve judgement for a while.

Gutted for the kid. Must feel completely hopeless when Smith will shoe horn a player into a unfamiliar position in order to avoid playing a youth. When McCulloch is back he has next to no chance. Actually no chance. Hes going to stagnate atleast until Smith leaves, i'd like to see him getting a game elsewhere until then. He is too old for the u19s and with the reserves finished it frustrating that the guy's chance at a career at this level has gone to waste like this.

There is a major flaw in your rationale - Wilson got a run because he demonstrated he could perform consistently under the same pressures applicable to Fleck. Fleck has many qualities and heaps of potential, but if he cannot deliver consistent performances he will not be picked regularly. A fact of life at The Rangers - often unacknowledged amongst the cries to give the younger players a chance - is that the team simply must win. Smith knows he cannot gamble on results and so any player be they young or old simply must deliver or they will find themselves playing a bit-part over a season. Just as it turned out to be for Fleck. In fairness to the player he has openly acknowledged that what he offered was simply not good enough. Wilson got a run in the team because of Bougherra's injuries/absences, he was also played in his natural position. Had DW been played at right-back or centre midfield would he have achieved the same level of consistency. If Rangers played Ness,Shinnie Perry etc in League cup games and gave them some experience in selected SPL games then surely the club would benefit in the long term. Smith has made it quite obvious that he doesn't care about the long term.

As I said, it was never going to be only a few weeks. He will be lucky to salvage any experience and game time from this season the time he gets back (I predict more than 6 weeks tbh), fit again and manages to impress Smith in training enough to give him a game. He will now be susceptible to periods out with hamstring trouble as someone said. Real shame for the lad, had high hopes for him aswell.

Exactly. Thats why he has to make at least a dozen starts this year to have a chance at realising his potential - He will be 20 before this season is up. MacMillan in my eyes has been wasted - hes 22 in Oct. Wylde is also coming no for 20. Fleck 19 this month and will be lucky to start a handful of games under the current management team, especially with his injury now.

Same size? Thought he looked around 5' 10" with a decent build.

High praise indeed. I just hope he gets a shot. Its criminal that we are wasting our best talents in years.

Very good performance. Walter will have to really have a good excuse (im sure he'll find one) to not played the kid now. He was very composed, a great level of technique for a Scottish lad and is pretty well built so could handle the physical side of the league.

From the looks of it, 2 months minimum. Shame. The lad looked like he might realise his potential this season as well.

Smith will barely use him. He showed his real intentions today. A friendly result means more to him than setting us up for the future. He'll squeeze by playing the older heads this year and leave us with untried "youngsters" next season. Another waste Scottish talent, just like Ness and Wylde. If you are looking to make an impact in this game you need to be play at this age. Poor kid.