JOSH GENTLES says it was a goosebumps moment to feature at Ibrox as the Academy forward reflected on his involvement with the first-team this pre-season.
The 17-year-old was a second half substitute, alongside 18-year-old full-back Zander Hutton, in the recent friendly draw with Club Brugge in Govan.
He was then part of the first-team squad which made the trip south of the border for a week-long intensive training camp at St. George’s Park where he was given the nod from the off in a behind closed doors clash against Barnsley on Saturday.
Speaking to the official Rangers website, the teenager said of his first senior Ibrox experience earlier this month: “I wasn’t nervous at first, but when I was waiting to come on the nerves hit me.
“I could hear the crowd, and even just coming out for the warm-up for a pre-season game it was pretty mad.
“[The Head Coach] pulled me the day before and said to me that I was going to be involved.
“I was sort of expecting it because I had been round training all week and doing well, but even then the smile still comes on your face when you hear that you’re playing at Ibrox.
“I got sent the squad list and it all started to feel very real.
“Even sitting on the bench when the players came out for the first half, it all just hits you straight away. It’s goosebumps stuff. It’s something that I can’t even speak about and it’s hard to explain the feeling.
“How did I find the pace of play? It’s much quicker and the players were stronger and faster.
“Technically, it’s a step up too. Club Brugge certainly aren’t a gimme team either – they reached the last 16 of the Champions League.
“I couldn’t have asked for a better game.”
Russell Martin’s squad were put through their paces at St. George’s Park last week as temperatures soared across the country.
For Gentles, it was an experience that he relished, building relationships with players whom he hopes to one day share a dressing room with.
He continued: “I really enjoyed it. I felt like I was able to talk to more of the boys as well because I was with them for the full week.
“I felt like I done well in training too which was good, and I started the game on Saturday which I really enjoyed as well.
“It put me in an environment where I was with them all the time. It means that you’re talking to them and they’re in the same building; you’re essentially doing everything with them so you need to get used to talking to them.
“Everything is a step up. It feels like every week is getting harder; tactically and physically it’s getting harder.
“Our bodies are sore from the amount of training we’ve been doing, but it’s just about getting ready for the next game.”
Gentles has been keen to soak up every piece of information this pre-season, listening intently to the Head Coach’s message and also seeking advice from those more experienced in his position.
The teenager credits the advice he has received from those his senior, while he also offered insight into the demands of a No.9 in Martin’s system.
He added: “He is big on work ethic but also big on being technically good. It’s a bit of both. He’ll never criticise someone for doing something technically poor as long as you react and run after it.
“He’s big on the No.9 playing between the two central defenders, being technically clean by setting the ball, and always running to the middle of the goal.
“Cyriel [Dessers] and Danilo have spoken to me quite a lot about small things such as positioning and where to run to.
"Danilo is so good technically, and you can learn a lot even from just watching someone like that.
“The advice is coming from top players who have been there and done what you want to go on and do. I couldn’t ask for any better advice.
“When I heard Danilo was the only other No.9 in training at the time it gave me a chance to impress.
“I feel like I took that chance, whereas if Cyriel [Dessers] and Hamza [Igamane] were back straight away then I may not have gotten the opportunity.
“I’m very grateful that the Head Coach has been good with me and given me the chances to go and do it.”