Callum Burnside, an 18-year-old from County Antrim, has emerged as a promising prospect at Rangers, following a similar path to fellow Northern Ireland player Ross McCausland. Burnside credits McCausland's support and guidance for helping him settle into life at the club and inspiring him to strive for the first team.
A County Antrim teenager, Callum Burnside , has spoken about the positive influence of fellow Northern Ireland player Ross McCausland as he progresses in his young Rangers career. Burnside joined the Ibrox club's academy full-time in summer 2023, having honed his skills in the youth ranks at Ballymena United and Linfield. The 18-year-old, a product of the Irish FA's JD Academy, has quickly established himself as a regular in Steven Smith's Under-18 squad this season.
Burnside first caught the attention of the Gers as a 16-year-old, impressing during trials and guest appearances at the SuperCupNI. His journey echoes the path taken by first-team player McCausland, who has also made his senior debut for Northern Ireland. Burnside recently revealed the regular conversations he has with McCausland at Rangers, explaining how his fellow countryman has been instrumental in helping him adapt to life at the club. Speaking to the official Rangers website, Burnside shared: 'Ross used to always come round and speak to me about how I’m getting on and if I’m enjoying it. He always told me that I could speak to him if I had any problems and that he would always be around the club. 'He even offered me to stay at his house and that’s just what he’s like with everyone. I had been over training quite a bit, and I had Mason and Ross over here. They helped me a lot when I first came over, and Ross always used to be at my digs a lot as he used to stay there before me. I knew Mason through the Northern Ireland youth set-up too. 'I definitely would have struggled . You don’t tend to speak to everyone when you first come over and knowing I could speak to Blaine , Mason and Ross was good. “It was helpful them being here.' Burnside looks up to McCausland's rise through the ranks at Rangers, seeing it as a testament to hard work and dedication. He added: 'Ross was with the B Team when I first came in and it just shows what can happen when you put in the hard work to get round to the first-team. There’s definitely a chance of getting into the first-team. 'What Ross has done is unbelievable and I just want to follow in his footsteps.' Burnside has already trained with Philippe Clement's first-team this season, a reward for his impressive performances with the Under-18s, who are aiming for success in the CAS Elite Under-18 League. He was also part of the squad that claimed the Glasgow Cup in December. Burnside believes he has grown as a player, becoming more versatile and capable of playing in multiple positions. 'I think I’ve improved into a more complete player and I can play in a lot of different positions. I’ve played in a few roles already for Rangers,' he said. 'There’s a higher physical demand when you move up a level and the speed of the players is different entirely. You don’t get as much as time on the ball at a higher level, but I do enjoy my time with the Under-18s as I can express myself and do what I can do. 'It's all about learning and hopefully the next step is the first-team.
Callum Burnside Ross Mccausland Rangers Football Northern Ireland Academy First Team Inspiration JD Academy
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