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Callum Burnside is currently thriving on loan with Alloa and the Northern Irishman is grateful to former Light Blues striker Calum Gallagher for giving him positive career advice as he learns his trade.
Gallagher, a product of the Rangers Academy, joined The Wasps in the summer and was a model professional for St Mirren, Airdrie, Dumbarton and Arbroath previously.
Now the 31-year-old is passing on his experiences to Callum and youth team-mates Lewis Stewart and Calum Adamson – who are also on loan with the League One club.
Ally McCoist handed Calum a first-team debut in March 2014 and he marked the occasion with a goal in a 2-0 win over Dunfermline at Ibrox.
He spent five years at Rangers progressing through the youth ranks to the senior squad and also enjoyed a loan spell with Alloa when he was a teenager.
Burnside, who joined from Linfield in 2023, is on the same path and is determined to learn as much as he possibly can from experienced campaigners like Calum.
He has started brightly, winning a number of Man of the Match awards and scoring against Montrose and Peterhead so far.
In a wide-ranging interview as he showed his support for The Rangers Youth Development Company – who have donated more than £12 million to the Academy so far – Callum says he will graft as hard as he can to make it at Rangers and working with Gallagher will certainly help him progress.
The 18-year-old left winger told us: “Gal’s been brilliant with me to be fair. I’ve had many conversations with him about his journey at Rangers and how his career has gone.
“He’s so experienced and is a nice guy as well. I can learn a lot by listening to him.
“He has given me great advice and has told me to do everything I can to the best of my ability.
“Every time you train you have to do your best and in games you have to just showcase your ability.
“He told me it’s about showing how good you are at all times and every time you play you must do everything you can to impress.
“Gal has been a big help and I’m enjoying my time at Alloa, playing competitive football every week.
“Manager Andy Graham was really keen on getting me in and it was great to feel wanted.
“Calum and Lewis are both here too and they arrived before me so it was brilliant to see faces I knew in the dressing room.
“All the boys have made me feel really welcome and I’ve really enjoyed it so far.
“I had to work myself into the team but now I’ve got myself in, I feel like I’ve done quite well.
“The manager has watched me playing for Rangers and wants me to just showcase my ability.
“I feel like I’ve taken it all in my stride so far and now I want to just keep it going.
“I’ve won a few Man of the Match awards, scored goals and made assists and hopefully there is more to come.
“I’ll try to score as many as I can to help the team as much as I can.
“Every game is a test and the standard has actually surprised me.
“It’s a different type of football. It’s a lot more direct and it has definitely felt more physical but there are a lot of players in League One who’ve played at a higher level so the standard is really good.
“I’m playing competitive games and you’re always going out to win.
“Sometimes it’s not really about the performance, it’s just about getting the three points as every game means something.
“The fans have taken to me, Calum and Lewis too so it’s all going well.
“This move is definitely helping me develop and I’ll become a better player for it.
“Nothing has really surprised me to be honest and everyone has been very welcoming.
“All the older boys talk you through the games and they are teaching me how to play at that higher level.
“I’ve been with Rangers since 2023 and it definitely feels like my home.
“I never want to leave as I’m loving it here. I signed a new contract a couple of months ago as well so I’m buzzing.
“I’ve also trained with the first-team recently and I enjoyed it. I did quite well too so it’s about pushing on now.
“The training sessions were really good so hopefully I can get more chances and try to impress the coaching staff.
“Calum Adamson was on the bench for the Braga game recently and that was brilliant. I was really happy for him and I want to do the same thing
“Findlay Curtis is also part of the first-team squad now so the pathway is 100% there for us.
“Between now and the end of my loan spell I want to get as much game time as possible, score as many goals as I can, get my name out there and just show what I’m about.”
Callum’s career development is assisted by annual RYDC donations to the Rangers Academy and more than £12 million has already been provided.
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