Rangers B took on English League One side Carlisle United at the Training Centre this afternoon with several first players named in the starting lineup for the hosts.
Whilst the Gers played out a 1-1 draw with their opponents, the head coach says the experience will help everyone involved for moving forward.
He commented: “It was a different type of game. We knew in advance what level of squad was going to come up from Carlisle and obviously they are a League One team in England.
“They wanted to get a game that suited players that were not getting a lot of minutes in the first team at the moment and that are more hybrid-type players.
“We knew with that being the case that some of our lads in the first team that needed minutes as well that it was going to be a game that was suitable for those types of players so that was important to us.
“The guys needed to pick up and minutes and go get something in their legs for the manager and it was important that they did that.
“The game itself I enjoyed probably the first 60 minutes. I thought it was a really competitive game.
“I thought we probably had the better of the chances in the first half particularly, obviously we never took them.
“Then it becomes a little bit scrappy in the second half I then think and both teams made substitutes as well.
“It was probably good for the first 60 and a bit scrappy towards the latter part of the game.
“We want our players to understand what that environment feels like, because ultimately we want to try and go beyond that.
“Our first team players it is important for them selfishly to pick up what they need minutes wise to go get back into our first team, but for our younger players, who are not quite established first team players yet it is about for them to try show personality. Go and perform, some did at different points in the game and hopefully that will stand us in good stead for the next upcoming games.
“You have got Leon Balogun, Nico Raskin, Ben Davies, Leon King and Robby McCrorie who have picked up minutes today which is important.
“You have also got younger players around that and it is the right type of game to go and try challenge them differently.
“We talk about European type games, the academy type games. This was more of a first team type game.
“For the younger players that was important, it was a different experience, it is more physical but in a way that is first team like where there is a lot of streetwise decisions made on the pitch and we have to find ways of making those moments for our players to try and adapt, adjust and perform.
McCallum was pleased with the response his side showed after falling behind with Thompson Ishaka finding the back of the net to level up the match.
He added: “It was an excellent goal; we spoke about for all the possession you have and all the opportunities you want to go and try make a difference.
“There needs to be runs against the back line and Thompson did that in that particular situation and it was a great finish into the bottom corner.
“You lose a goal from the penalty, which is a little bit frustrating because I actually don’t think Robby up until that point had an awful lot to do, it was mainly crosses that he was dealing with.
“It was a good reaction and response, an excellent goal. We had a couple of chances towards the end to maybe to have sneaked the win but unfortunately it didn't happen.