NEWCASTLE are tracking Rangers kid Cole McKinnon.
The megabucks English side have sent scouts to watch the 19-year-old star for Partick Thistle in the Championship this season.
And they are weighing up a bid for the midfielder in the next transfer window.
Rangers have always rated the teenager highly, farming him out to East Fife and now the Jags to gain experience before returning to challenge for a place at Ibrox.
McKinnon, on the scoresheet against Arbroath on Saturday, was handed a new deal through to 2025 earlier this summer so they are well protected against interest from other clubs.
But Newcastle like what they see and could test their resolve in a few months when the opportunity to bring in new players opens up once more.
McKinnon was singled out for praise for his performance in Thistle’s win at the weekend.
The 19-year-old scored a wonder goal as Ian McCall’s men took three points with a 2-0 win at Arbroath.
It has been a productive 12 months for McKinnon who was named Rangers B side player of the year last campaign while playing in the Lowland League, UEFA Youth League and SPFL Trust Trophy.
Giovanni van Bronckhorst even rewarded him with a first start for the senior side in an end-of-season clash with Hearts this year, where he scored his first goal in an emotional moment for the teenager.
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Despite impressing in his first team cameo though, the promising starlet was put out on loan to Championship side Partick Thistle to get regular minutes under manager McCall.
McKinnon seems have settled right in at Firhill too.
He scored his second goal for the club on Saturday against Arbroath at Gayfield – and what a goal it was.
In the dying minutes of the game, he drove at the hosts’ defence, skinned two defenders and slotted home coolly.
And it is fair to say that the Jags fans were quick to show their appreciation for the talented midfielder.
Several supporters on Twitter had their say on the dazzling goal.
One said: “Cole McKinnon might genuinely be the best on Earth”
Another added: “I f****** love Cole McKinnon with all my heart.”
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
