The midfielder only turned 17 earlier this month but has been a regular part of the first-team training group, as well as being part of several matchday squads, since the turn of the year.
He reported for pre-season training on Monday alongside Russell Martin’s first-team squad and says he’s relishing the hard work and intensity of his first men’s pre-season schedule.
Speaking exclusively to the official Rangers website, the teenager said of his first week back: “It’s been good so far, getting to know the new head coach and getting back round to the first-team side.
“He’s been saying to the deepest midfielders to always be on the half-turn and keep your body open so we can see the whole pitch.
“He’s been saying to the full group that we need to be ready to run without the ball and then, with the ball, we need to be tidy with it.
“I think it could be [my style of play]. It’s possession-based, a lot of short and sharp passes, so for me as a midfielder it’s something that could suit me.
“It’s definitely a harder pre-season. It’s a bigger load and running is more difficult because you’re running with men and aiming to keep up with them.
"Compared to the academy side it’s a lot harder, but they’re both really hard.
“We have been doing mostly ball work in the morning and running in the afternoon. We’re still getting a lot of the ball in the morning, but the afternoons are mainly just focussed on our running.”
It was only 12 months ago that McCallion signed his first professional contract at the club, joining up with Stevie Smith’s Under-18s group.
Very quickly, however, the midfielder impressed despite being surrounded by older players, playing a pivotal role in the young Gers lifting the Glasgow Cup back in April.
In doing so, he scooped the Academy Player of the Year award at the end of season awards ceremony, with the recent summer hiatus providing time for reflection for the youngster.
He continued: “I had the chance to look back and I thought it was a really good season.
"We won the Glasgow Cup, came close to winning the league, and I won Academy Player of the Year.
“I didn’t expect to get round to the first-team side in my first year at the start of the season, but as the season went on I felt I was getting closer and I was just desperate to impress the manager once I got round.
“Last season when I was round at the first-team side there was Findlay [Curtis], Paul [Nsio] and Zander [Hutton], but there’s a couple more now around my age.
“It makes it a little easier to have them alongside me.
“It’s better because I’ve gotten to know more of the boys and they know me. It makes it easier going round this time at the start because I’ve already trained and been away with them before.
“I was really nervous the first time that I went round. But the boys all made me feel welcome and, once you get going, it eases up a little bit.
“Was I disappointed not to make my debut? I was a little bit. It’s obviously the manager’s decision. We were right in the game when we played Hibs on the final day and had chances to win it.
“But if you said to me at the start of the season that I would travel with the first-team and be on the bench I would have definitely taken it.
This week has presented McCallion with an early opportunity to catch Martin’s eye on the training pitch.
The youngster has been a regular member of the first-team training group in 2025, soaking up every piece of advice that his teammates have had to offer.
McCallion insists he’s only going to get better being surrounded by first-team quality and says he’s grateful for the guidance he has received from his a returning loanee.
He added: “You’re always bound to be nervous going round to train with the first-team. But you need to just try and impress.
“There’s no point going and trying to play it safe; it’s about working your hardest and making an impression.
“Who has stood out in training? Kieran Dowell has been really good. The captain has been good, but I have to say I’ve been impressed by everyone.
“Kieran has helped me a lot. He’s played in midfield alongside me in training games and he speaks to me within games.
“It’s an eye-opener to see the level that you need to get to and training alongside them should develop me as well.
“A lot of the boys have given me advice. The captain has spoken to me quite a bit, Kieran likewise, as well as [Nico] Raskin and [Connor] Barron who play in a similar position that I do; even the boys who play behind me in defence as they can me when I’m playing.”
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