Exclusive:Sudden emergence of Rangers starlet on international stage has Ibrox hero purring at prospect of Brazil cameo
Winger hopes to force his way into the reckoning for a starting berth to face five-time World Cup winners
Rangers youngster Findlay Curtis has enjoyed a whirlwind 12 months, culminating in shock call-up to the Scotland squad for the World Cup Finals in North America.
At just 19 years old, the Ibrox academy graduate made headlines once again by becoming the youngest-ever player to represent the Scots at a major tournament during last weekend’s 1-0 group stage victory over Haiti in Boston.
Prior to the World Cup, Curtis made his senior international debut against Japan in March before scoring his first national team goal in a friendly win over Curacao in late May.
Having made his first-team breakthrough for the Light Blues under Russell Martin last summer, Curtis was shipped out to fellow Premiership side Kilmarnock in January and proved a shining light for the Rugby Park outfit, helping the club stave off the threat of relegation.
And one former Gers star who has watched his development flourish from afar is Kenny Miller, who reckons a cameo appearance against Brazil on Wednesday night in Scotland’s final group stage encounter in Miami would cap off a season to remember for Curtis.
Speaking to GlasgowWorld in association with BetGoodwin, Miller said: “I’ve been really impressed, more and more every time I see Finlay Curtis. He’s had a really strong last six months of the season, and he’s basically played his way into the national team picture out of nowhere.
“When you’re putting in those kinds of performances, you get noticed. And the thing with Finlay is, like Ben Gannon-Doak, we’ve not always had a lot of natural wide players over the years – now suddenly we’ve got a couple coming through.
“I don’t think he’ll start against Brazil, but when he’s come on, he’s definitely impacted games in a positive way. And that’s a big part of squad building – it’s not just about your starters, it’s about what you’ve got on the bench.
“If you’re in a situation where you need a goal or you’re chasing the game a bit, you’re looking around thinking: who can come on and change it? It’s no surprise Finlay Curtis is one of those players, because he’s got real ability to affect things.
“He’s a bit different to Gannon-Doak on the other side – he doesn’t have that same lightning pace – but he’s a really good technical player, he can dribble, he can beat a man, and he’s shown he can score as well, which is another big plus.
“He’s a really strong option to come off the bench and impact games the way he already has done.”
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