Kieran Wright and Rhys Breen RYDC Q&A Highlights

RYDC hosted a Twitter Q&A with Rangers Academy duo Kieran Wright and Rhys Breen recently – check out the highlights of their session.

Both players will spend the season on loan with Partick Thistle and are looking forward to getting back to competitive action.

Goalkeeper Kieran has enjoyed loans with Gala Fairydean, Albion Rovers, Raith Rovers and Alloa before and learned so much from the experience.

Central defender Breen is experiencing a loan move for the first time in his career.

Q – Tom – Rhys, who helped most and what got you through the extended injury spell you had & coming back how special was it to win the league at Falkirk?

RB – It was the help of my team mates and coaches but probably the biggest help was my family and friends. Speaking to them often was a big thing for me. It is a dark place when you are injured for so long, everybody knows that so you have to do all you can to get through it.

But I managed to get through it and that’s the most important thing.

It was a tough build up to the Falkirk game. I only had a couple of games in the lead up to that match but to play in that game and even score a goal as we won the league was a big confidence boost for me.

After that match we had the summer break and I came back fit and ready to go. I’ve kept myself fit and have been progressing ever since.

Q - Tom – Kieran, when you were called into the first team match day squad how daunting was it being in the dressing room for the first time and who took you under their wing?

KW – I actually remember it quite well. I was 17 at the time. It was Pedro Caixinha’s first game in charge and it was a 4-0 win over Hamilton at Ibrox. Jimmy Bell really looked after me in and around the dressing room, although he gave me a good bit of stick as well. That was the first time I did the warm up with the first-team at Ibrox on a matchday and it was a good insight into how the players go about their business and get themselves ready for a game.

I can remember the place was bouncing and that’s what you dream of as a young boy – to experience that week in week out. I found out in the training session the day before. The goalkeeping coach at the time, Jose Belman, was talking to me and told me I would be with the first team-squad. I was quite taken aback by it but they wanted three goalkeepers in the matchday squad and I was in. I came home and told my mum and dad and they couldn’t believe it. The goalkeepers go out about an hour before kick off and there were already people in the stadium.

Walking out for the first time to warm up was something else.

Q – The Duck - Which first team players look out for you and give tips, time and support?

RB – I’m a centre half so I learn from them most of all. I’ve played alongside Felip Helander and George Edmundson and spoken to both of them about the game. When you train with the first team they always speak to you and make sure you are doing the right things. All the centre backs at the club are inspirational for me. I always watch them and see what they do and what I can pick up on.

KW – The goalkeepers are always there for me and give me tips and advice. I try to learn from what they do every day in training and put that into my game. When they compliment you on a save it means a lot coming from fellow goalies.

Allan McGregor and Jon McLauglin have probably played over 1000 games between them so they have so much experience. You couldn’t ask for better to learn from at Rangers.

The best one for me to look up to is Allan McGregor. He has been there and done exactly what I am going through now with loan moves. He benefitted from his loan moves so that gives me a lot of hope.

It’s about getting experience for goalkeepers. It’s such an important position and you have to earn the trust of players and managers.

Q – 4LadsHadADream – Both - What is your goals for your loan at Thistle and what do you hope to really benefit from?

Both - Will you train FT with PT or still spend training time with RFC during the loan spell?

RB – I’ve been with Thistle for about two weeks. It has been really good and intense and I am getting to know everyone. I know what the manager wants from me and I can’t wait to play first-team football. Just to get back playing again will be great for us all.

It has been a nightmare year for everyone. We have the chance to win the league there so we have to go out and perform. Every training session and game matters and I am really looking forward to it.

I’ll train full-time with Thistle but I can still go in to Rangers and work on my game – that could be a one-on-one session with Kevin Thomson or Brian Gilmour or a gym session. The door will always be open for me

KW – My goals are to win the fight for the number one jersey and obviously keep it for the rest of the season. My last loan spell in that division was going really well but then ended due to a lengthy injury so hopefully I can stay fully fit. Another goal for me would be to go on and win the league with Partick Thistle.

I think I would benefit from getting a good run of games again. That’s when I feel I am at my best. I perform well when I get a good few games in a row.

The Sports Science department have been really good with me. I’ll be training full time with Thistle but I can come in and do my gym programme at Rangers, I obviously just need to stay away from the first team in the current circumstances. They have given me programmes and check in with me daily to see how I am doing so that’s really good.

Q – Jamie - Kieran how have you enjoyed your previous loan spells? What do you think the benefits of going on loan are?

KW – I have loved every loan spell I have been on and this is my fifth. Nothing beats training hard all week then playing at the weekend. It’s something to really look forward to and you have the chance to prove yourself during matches and show what you can do.

Experiencing a first-team dressing room and playing first-team matches builds your character and I think that is crucial for a young boy coming through. You need character in a first-team dressing room.

Playing games is important and if you make a mistake you can’t crumble. You have to learn and move forward.

Q - Rhys what made you make the decision to go on loan this season?

RB – When I was coming back from my injury it was too early for me to go out on loan as I was still trying to find my way, get my touch back and get general fitness. But I spoke to Craig Mulholland and the staff at Rangers and I know this is the next step in my development. When Partick Thistle came in for me I was delighted. I am getting to the stage in my career where you need to train and play in a first-team environment and this is a great loan move for me. I now need to work hard at Thistle and push on.

Q - Which players do you look up to or model your game on?

RB – I like to watch centre halfs and I look at the ones in all the top leagues at different clubs. I watch football and try and pick up things. Liverpool’s Virgil van Dijk is probably the best in the world and it is great to watch how he plays the game. He is a tough, solid centre back playing in a top league. So when I watch football I try and pick up as much information as possible.

KW – It has to be Allan McGregor for me. I’ve watched him play for so many years as the Rangers goalie and Scotland goalie and I couldn’t pick anyone better. I got to train with him almost every day last season and I really look up to him. He is so professional and the way he goes about his business is second to none.

He is quiet in training but when it comes to a game he is very vocal with defenders and communicates very well. He prepares so well for games and if he ever makes a mistake he doesn’t need anyone to tell him because the next save is always perfect. It’s a mentality thing. He knows what he needs to do and looking at him helps me.

If I can take a wee bit from him every day then it can only help me.

Q - Favourite Rangers players past/present? Good luck!

RB – Barry Ferguson and Kevin Thomson. They were great players and always so professional in training sessions and on the pitch. They both got about the pitch so well and put in some hard tackles too. They had great careers with Rangers. Barry came through the youth ranks at Rangers and that gives me extra motivation to do what he did. I spoke to Kevin before I joined Partick Thistle and really enjoyed the B team sessions. Kevin demands so much and I was able to hit so many targets thanks to the input he gave me.

KW – I’ve already said Allan McGregor but favourite present day outfield players would be Steven Davis and Scott Arfield. They are both technically unbelievable and the nicest guys you will meet. They have always got time for all the young boys. They will sit and have coffee or lunch with you at the training ground. They both captain their countries and are genuinely nice guys and on the park their quality shows.

Steven is breaking all sorts of cap records with Northern Ireland and he deserves it. Every day in training he is fantastic and he makes passes and scores goals that nobody else can do. His ability is frightening.

Scott has always got time for young players and he is always helping us with wee comments or tips. Wee things like that really helps the young boys up their game.

Q – Alan Douglas - who would you pick in your ultimate 5 a side team, either current or ex players?

RB – I will go with Allan McGregor, Lee Wallace, Barry Ferguson, Kevin Thomson and Peter Lovenkrands

KW – I’d pick Allan McGregor, David Weir, Barry Ferguson, Steven Davis and Peter Lovenkrands. That’s not a bad team!

Q - Fiona – What was the highlight of your Rangers career so far?

RB – Overcoming my injury was the biggest one for me then on the back of that winning the reserve league. Recovering from a serious injury is hard for any footballer so I was proud to do that.

KW - Winning the league with the reserves, we took a setback getting beat in the Glasgow Cup Final, so to win the league on the last day of the season was a great feeling. All the hard work of the season paid off.

Q – Jamie Barjonas – Whose head is bigger? Must be close!

RB – ha ha – they are probably as big as each other!!

KW - Not a hard answer, definitely Breeny. However if it was between Barjo and Breeny, that would definitely be up for discussion 👽

Q – Elsie McCready - Hi Guys. If you could have one wish for this season what would it be and why?

RB – I want to become a better player than last season and improve. My goal every year is to improve and get better. I appreciate it more now I have overcome such a serious injury. I go into every training session with 100% and take that attitude into every situation.

KW – To earn a new contract with Rangers and win the league with Partick Thistle. The two of them are my wishes for this season, because it would be the icing on the cake for all the hard work so far, and the hard work that will be put in the rest of the season.

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