WE'RE NOT KIDDING

LEE MARTIN was at Manchester United when he saw for himself that you can, in fact, win everything with kids.

And the on-loan winger insists the same can happen at Rangers with the current crop of youngsters who have emerged in this troubled season for the Ibrox club.

Rangers don't have Paul Scholes, David Beckham, Nicky Butt or the Nevilles atMurray Park.

But there is some talent which should give the supporters the hope they are searching for in these difficult times.

Allan McGregor is now quite rightly seen as the club's first-choice keeper and could be for years to come.

Stevie Smith has been Rangers' most consistent outfield player this season, Charlie Adam is one of the few midfielders who has looked like scoring a goal and while Alan Hutton has gone a little backwards, there is no doubt the right-back has something about him.

Chris Burke has had another spell on the sidelines but Rangers will surely now move quickly to ensure Paul Le Guen gets to work with the winger, who won three Player of the Year awards at Ibrox last season.

Martin's move to Rangers has not gone entirely to plan, a knee injury which kept him out for six weeks and the team's appalling form has seen to that, but he does believe Rangers are moving in the right direction.

Martin said: "We have a good young team and it's going to take time.

"We may have to put up with a year like this because it might make for a bigger and better future. All credit to the gaffer for playing the kids because at the end of the day the kids are the future.

"Young players like myself, Charlie Adam and Stevie Smith have been given a chance at Rangers and I think that's great.

"There are a lot of youngsters in the team and it will take time for us to learn the game.

"But look at the United side a few years back when they were all breaking through.

"These things take time and I hope the manager is given time. He deserves credit for what he's trying to do. There could be an exciting few years ahead.

"Stevie Smith is the prime example. Look what he's done this season. I don't know what he did before but he has been fantastic for us."

Martin spent enough time at Old Trafford to know Manchester United are the story of the day - every single day.

And while he always knew Rangers were a big club, the past few months have opened his eyes to the fact that, in Scotland, there is even more interest in his current team.

Martin said: "I never looked upon Scottish football in a negative way. I always thought good things about it and I was right.

"The physical side is maybe tougher but I don't think there is a lot of difference between the two leagues. People might like to think there is but there isn't.

"Also, Rangers are a massive club. I admit I didn't realise how big they were until I came here. You pick up on it very quickly and it's so similar to United. That club means so much to so many people and Rangers is the exact same.

"There is not a lot of difference between the two clubs and I think that's why the gaffer wanted me to come to Rangers because of the pressure and the expectations.

"I've grown up a lot because what's happened here in just six months has really opened my eyes.

"It obviously hasn't gone as well as I would have hoped but it's still been a great experience. It was important to get the win last week and we've worked hard as a unit in training since then.

"I feel we're very close to getting it right, people on the outside don't realise that. The win against Dunfermline has brought us all closer together and now we're looking to Hearts."

Martin's loan deal is up in January and only then will Le Guen, Sir Alex Ferguson and the player himself decide what should be done next for the best.

The 19-year-old was outstanding the last time Rangers faced Hearts, in a 2-0 win at Ibrox.

It was the team's best SPL performance of the season by some way and Martin admitted it was his high point in a blue jersey before things started going wrong.

He said: "My loan deal ends in January and we'll see what happens then.

"I'm settled here, very happy, but it won't be my decision. I would like to stay for sure. I just feel I haven't had a fair crack at it to show everyone what I'm capable of.

"I'm just delighted to be back playing because it's been a frustrating time for me. I've been out for six weeks and that's hard to come back from but I'm determined to do it.

"I picked up my injury against Hearts in the last game.

"Things had been going so well for me up until then but it's been downhill ever since. That's football though, it's full of ups and downs.

"If we can beat Hearts it would be unreal, it would take a bit of the pressure off."

Taken from the Daily Record