Rangers head of academy Craig Mulholland believes that youngsters Stephen Kelly and Matthew Shiels thoroughly deserve their new contracts and now will aim to walk through the pathway to make it into Steven Gerrard's team.

The duo put pen-to-paper to new three year contracts at the club on Thursday, and will now stay with the Gers until at least 2021.




The head of academy took time to heap praise on the youngsters, insisting that the performances they have shown over the last couple of years have been incredible and the contract is a reward for just that.

Mulholland also took time to speak about the pathway that exists between the academy and the first team, with senior manager Gerrard having kept his door open for youngsters to come in and make their mark.
 


The hope is now that both Kelly and Shiels will do their best to travel the road and get into the first team.

“Stephen and Matthew have been great over the past couple of years and they thoroughly deserve their extension to their contract. What I think is significant, though, is they are both delighted to be signing for Rangers", Mulholland told his club's official website.

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There was also praise in Mulholland's words for director of football Mark Allen who, he insists, does his best to make sure that the pathway exists.

“They can see a pathway which has developed at the club.

"The manager has clearly shown he is desperate to play young players if they are good enough and they do well, while Mark Allen in his role as Director of Football is making sure that pathway exists.

“There has probably never been a more exciting time to be a young Rangers player in terms of opportunity, and I am sure these guys will grab that opportunity over the next few years.”

Kelly has been involved with the first team a number of times this season and played his first match for the Gers in a friendly against Wigan Athletic.