23 May 2026 16:05 BST |
3 min read
Rangers star Findlay Curtis has revealed that he fought to leave the club on loan to Kilmarnock in January – and his gamble paid off as he won a call up to Scotland’s World Cup squad.
Curtis had impressed early in the season under Russell Martin, scoring against Panathinaikos in a Champions League qualifier, but as the Gers’ form faltered, he was gradually made more peripheral. Martin’s sacking had little impact on the 19-year-old’s fortunes and at the end of the transfer window he was loaned out to struggling Kilmarnock.
The Balfron-born star’s impact with Killie, where he played under former Rangers winger Neil McCann, was profound. He scored six goals as the Ayrshire outfit successfully moved out of the relegation zone.
Curtis has now explained why he was so desperate to make the move south.
“I wanted to push for that loan,” he told Rangers TV. “I wanted to go out on loan to prove a point to people here that I want to come back and play next season. I want to do my best for this club.
“In my position, you need to score goals and create chances and that’s what I’ve done for the past couple of games. Credit to Kilmarnock for taking me down there. What a club it is and I’m thankful for it. It’s been massive.
“I’m grateful for everything that’s happened over the past 12 months.”
World Cup a dream come true – Curtis
And Curtis’ payoff has come in the form of a World Cup call – something that seemed beyond him before his January switch to Rugby Park.
“It’s a dream come true. Every boy at my age has had a ream to go away with Scotland and to do it at this age, it’s massive,” he said.
“I was out on the golf course, playing golf with a couple of boys from here and ex-boys from here. I found out at quarter past 10 and when I saw it, I was buzzing.
“It came as a real surprise, really. I spoke to the Scotland gaffer before I left camp and he was saying, ‘just keep on working hard and see what happens’.
“I’ve done really well for the last couple of games for Kilmarnock and I’m obviously in the squad and delighted.”
Killie unlock Curtis superpower that Rangers can profit from
Curtis scored four goals in five games for Kilmarnock as they secured their survival in impressive style, yet there is one overlooked aspect to the teenager’s run at the club that could serve Rangers well in the years ahead.
The teenager had exclusively been used in his favoured left-wing role in the early weeks of the season, but at Kilmarnock he was used across the park.
McCann sprung a major surprise by deploying him as a starting right-back against St Mirren, which was a role he ultimately thrived in. He was used off both the right and left by Killie, and this versatility, which often saw him play more than one position per game, should prove of immense use for Rangers.
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