Darren Cole eager to push on after dream Rangers debut

THE number '2013' was being paraded on Darren Cole's Rangers shirt yesterday. While the reason for this was a very satisfying one, what Cole really wants to see are his initials displayed prominently on his training gear.

Not that he can't be satisfied with his progress so far. Cole has just signed a new two-and-a-half year contract - hence the year that was displayed on his jersey - but the real mark of success will be left by a needle and thread.

"At some stage the manager decides the players no longer have a number on their shirt but their initials, as happens at Rangers, and they will move to the first-team changing room," explained Tommy Wilson, the Rangers reserve team coach. "The manager will make that decision when he knows he (Cole] is ready."

It is obvious that Walter Smith has already been greatly impressed by the 18-year-old, and Cole is among those who will surely benefit if the line of succession to the manager's chair will see Ally McCoist, who takes a keen interest in all the young players at Murray Park, take charge next season.

Whether it is McCoist or someone else, Rangers simply hope Cole is set to build on a tradition of full backs from Edinburgh who have starred for the club. Sandy Jardine went on to play nearly 700 games for Rangers, and, like Cole, grew up a Hearts fan. Cole has played just one match to date, but not even Jardine can boast of having made his debut in Europe's premier club competition.

Cole played 80 minutes of Rangers' last Champions League clash, against Bursaspor in Turkey, having not even been included in the initial squad. Smith had clearly seen something he liked in Cole, who was spotted by Rangers while playing for Livingston Under-11s. Hearts might argue that their present form shows that they do not need him, but it will clearly be a matter of regret that he slipped through their fingers, just as Jardine did all those years ago.

"I was a Hearts supporter when I first came here, but I'm a Rangers fan now," emphasised Cole yesterday, as he reflected on his surprise inclusion in the line-up in Turkey last week.

"My parents were very, very happy when they heard I was playing," he said. "I had never seen them like that before. I was just happy that they were so happy. I've not got much first-team experience so if I could just get some more appearances under my belt then that would help my confidence.

"But last week was a big help.If the manager thinks enough of me to play me in a Champions League game, then hopefully he might also consider playing me in the league games, too."

It was an unnerving occasion, and not only for Cole. Wilson admitted he felt nervous just watching. "When we found out that Coley was playing your heart is in your mouth a wee bit," he said yesterday. "Not that we don't have any confidence in him. But he's one of our products and you are praying that he does well. I always felt that Darren is level-headed enough to handle it. At the same time, it's a European stage and if they fall flat on their face it doesn't look too good for us."

But Cole never looked like doing this, and can reflect with pride when he watches footage of his performance.

His parents don't have Sky so they were unable to record it for him, but Wilson assured Cole he will go through the tape with him at Murray Park, and analyse what he did right and what he did wrong.

"You're only as good as your last game here at Rangers, but I will take a lot of confidence from how I played in Turkey," said Cole. "If I've played badly in a match then I'm always a bit wary going into the next one, but, because I did OK last week, then I think I can be fairly confident the next time I get a chance in the first team.

"The manager didn't have too much to say to me personally after the Bursaspor game," added Cole. "But both him and the rest of the coaching staff praised me for my performance, which was nice to hear. The players were good with me as well. I hadn't expected to get on with them as well as I did. They were all really nice. They were talking to me and helping me through the whole experience."

Cole is evidence of another burst of productivity at Murray Park, from where the likes of Alan Hutton, Charlie Adam and Danny Wilson all graduated. Kyle Hutton, Gregg Wylde and Rory Loy have all made the step up to the Rangers first team this season, along with Cole.

While this might be down to necessity, Rangers do appear keen to take advantage of this rich seam of talent. This hasn't always been the way on both sides of the Old Firm, where the development of young footballers was often thought to be hindered by the ability of Rangers and Celtic to buy in ready-made talent.

The fiscal problems which now restrict Rangers means Wilson is confident in the knowledge that if he and his coaches can help produce the players, then they will have every chance to shine with the Ibrox club.

Rangers can then benefit from their contributions, before, as in the case of Danny Wilson and Hutton, selling them on for a profit. And Cole's emergence has helped illuminate the good work being done below first-team level. "We have had more publicity and praise on the back of Darren Cole playing in the Champions League than when we (the Under-19s] won the league and cup double," pointed out Wilson.

"It is far more important in every aspect of our work here to get guys into the first team.That is what we are about."

Wilson, who joined Rangers from the Scottish Football Association, has recently returned from a trip to study the methods at Barcelona, where he was impressed by the commitment to skill over physique in the youths. He was also startled by the absence of airs and graces.

"As I walked across the training ground, one of their senior staff interrupted what he was doing to come and shake my hand," recalled Wilson. "It wasn't because he knew who I was - it's just part of the culture at the place. Xavi and Iniesta both drove out the training ground in a small family car."

Wilson continued: "I know that at our place if a young player alters his attitude he can alter his life. If they show a good attitude they can - as Danny Wilson has done - become wealthy young men and Scotland internationals. (But] you need to keep your feet on the ground, don't have a big head and think you're a finished product."

As for Cole, it was back to reserve team football yesterday, though someone quipped that, to make him feel at home, they would pipe the Champions League theme through the Murray Park speakers. The stakes remained high, however. "It might be two men and a dog watching," noted Wilson, "but the two men are the manager and the assistant!"