By Alan Hutton

19th Sep, 2019 | 11:50am

'Thorn in the side' - Alan Hutton tips Ibrox 22-yr-old for first Rangers start v Feyenoord

EXCLUSIVE

Alan Hutton has tipped Steven Gerrard to hand Brandon Barker his first start for Rangers in their Europa League clash against Feyenoord on Thursday.

Speaking exclusively to Football Insider assistant editor Russell Edge, the former Scotland defender and boyhood supporter of the Gers says that the 22-year-old always caused the Light Blues problems during his loan spell at Hibernian and that his pace could do the same to the Dutch side at Ibrox.

Barker joined Steven Gerrard’s side from Manchester City this summer and has two substitute appearances for the first-team under his belt so far.

Having seen the wide man open his account with a fierce strike against Livingston, Hutton has tipped him to take the place of the injured Ryan Kent in the starting XI.

Hutton told Football Insider: “Ojo could play there, Barker did well. If it was me, I would like Barker because of his pace. He’s always been a thorn in the side of Rangers when he was at Hibs, always gave Rangers a tough game.

“Bringing him in was a great stroke from Gerrard and he did well. This is his opportunity now. Can Brandon Barker come in, push on and really give Gerrard a headache picking a team? 

“I think Feyenoord will sit in for the first 20 minutes and try get the crowd onto Rangers’ backs. If he needs someone to unlock the door I think his pace could really hurt them.”

Rangers head into Thursday’s clash with just one defeat under their belt from their opening games of the season, losing to Celtic in the first Old Firm clash of the season.

Feyenoord have not lost one of their opening five league games in the Eredivisie with two wins and three draws, their latest outing seeing them beat Ado Den Haag 3-2 at home.

In other Rangers news, Football Insider can reveal that the Light Blues are plotting an out-of-window move for a “quality” free agent.