Mature Wilson reminds Smith of Dundee United legend Narey

Published on Friday 6 November 2009 22:59

RANGERS manager Walter Smith has compared Danny Wilson to a young David Narey and admits even he was surprised by how well the youngster handled his promotion to the first team.

Wilson made his senior debut in last week's Co-operative Insurance Cup win at Dundee and impressed enough to retain his place for the Clydesdale Bank Premier League game against Dundee United. Smith then made the decision to hand the teenager his bow in the Champions League when he partnered David Weir in the heart of defence as Rangers earned a 1-1 draw with Unirea Urziceni in Bucharest on Wednesday.

Rather than being fazed by the occasion, Wilson stole the show with one of the top performances of the night and is now expected to make his first Ibrox appearance against St Mirren today.

For Smith, the comparisons with Narey are obvious. The defensive lynchpin of the successful Dundee United team of the 1980s, Narey was also just 17 when he made the breakthrough to senior football.

"I was surprised, not just by the way Danny Wilson played, but by how he handled the overall situation," admitted Smith. "He didn't look fazed by it at all and there were no great signs of nervousness.

"I was fortunate at Dundee United to have David Narey and he is a similar type of player to him and has a similar attitude. If he can have as good a career as David Narey had, then we will all be happy. I was hoping he would get a few games this season and it's looking as though, if he continues to play in the manner he has done, he will get a lot more than I envisaged at the start of the season."

Wilson's performances may have propelled him into the spotlight but Smith is confident he possesses the maturity to deal with the sudden attention.

"There is a tendency for people to get carried away," said the Rangers manager. "But he is not the type of boy that looks as though he will.

He has handled it all and has played very well to boot. Hopefully that can continue. It will be nice for Rangers supporters to see one or two of our younger players coming through.

"If we are talking about having a smaller group this year, it has certainly given some of the younger players an opportunity."

Looking ahead to the visit of St Mirren, Smith added: "I always think they play to a good level and I was surprised they were fighting relegation last season. I think Gus MacPherson ... deserves great credit for the way he has handled his team over the last few seasons."