If there is one Auchenhowie graduate who sums up ‘high expectations’ it’s Ross McCausland.
The youth player burst onto the scene over a stunning 10-day period under Philippe Clement at the very start of the Belgian’s tenure, and looked to be the winger answer we all sought at Rangers.
He was young, quick, versatile and an academy product.
Ulster-born, Rangers-bred, he looked the perfect solution and for those initial two weeks or so, we believed we had a £20M winger in the making.
Rangers quickly tied him down to a long-term deal in that belief.
Sadly, the hype completely outweighed the ability and McCausland fell badly short and fast.
He retained fan favour given he was one of us, but eventually even the most ardent supporter had to eventually concede McCausland was just not up to it.
Summer last year he was loaned out to Aris Limassol who were similarly unimpressed and did not take up their option to buy.
So now, as of present moment McCausland is a Rangers player again but it won’t be for long.
He is an example of when despite being a dyed-in-the-wool bluenose the ability just doesn’t match and unfortunately there’s no game to raise to.
He burst aggressively onto the scene in November 2023, winning MOTM on his debut for NI in a whirlwind period which made him look like Messi.
Even Ibrox Noise bought in and called him a £20M winger in the making. We soon realised we’d been a speck premature with such hopes.
And now we learn that despite all these fails the past two and a half years, McCausland is interesting Champions League outfit FC Thun of Switzerland.
He also has interest from MLS and European sides apparently.
Truth? There is no official word of any interest in him at all, the Thun interest looks agent-driven, because McCausland will play no part for Rangers next season. And he needs a new club.
And we find no credible interest in him from any other sources.
But we hope there is.
McCausland is a good guy and while not Rangers level deserves a decent move which can hopefully get the best out of him.