Lowry hails Ramsey’s key role in his rapid rise
Aaron Ramsey’s legacy at Rangers may not be immediately obvious.
Light Blues fans will remember him for his heartbreaking penalty miss in the Europa League Final against Eintracht Frankfurt, the climax of an underwhelming loan spell from Juventus.
However, Ibrox starlet Alex Lowry believes his rapid development has been accelerated by working with the Wales internationalist, and insists he’s come on leaps and bounds from just a short spell working with Ramsey.
Lowry is set to make his debut for Scotland Under-21s this afternoon in Sint-truiden against runaway Euro 2023 group leaders Belgium.
Scot Gemmill’s side are almost certainly out of the competition, barring a win today and in Denmark on Friday, along with other results going their way.
But, for the 18-year-old Lowry, it marks another step in an incredible month where he’s burst into the Rangers team, scored his first league goal for the club, signed a new deal and been on the bench for both the Europa League Final and the Scottish Cup Final.
He said: “I don’t think the last few weeks have really sunk in. I’m just trying to take it and use it. But it’s been a whirlwind couple of months.
“I’ve spoken to Giovanni van Bronckhorst and his staff, and they think it’s brilliant I am here. It’s a great opportunity.
“Aaron Ramsey was amazing to learn from. He’s played at such a high level throughout his career.
“It was great to pick up things, too, from Joe Aribo and Ryan Kent to name a few in my position. Small things that make a massive difference.
“Aaron was great with a lot of the younger boys. He spoke to me a lot, and we were just watching him, the way he conducted himself, and how good he was in training.
“You were like: ‘Wow, he is a top player.’ “Taking stuff from his game and trying to put it into my game was great.
“Seville was amazing for me as an 18-year-old. The result wasn’t brilliant, obviously, but what an experience it was for me and my career.
“I’ve probably picked up more off the pitch, in how guys prepare, what they eat, and how they conduct themselves around the hotel.
“On the pitch, I’ve learned a lot tactically, such as how players pick up the ball and use
the space so well. The physical side is part and parcel of the game now, so it’s more the tactical side of it I’ve learned from.
“But that week was the most stressful of my life!
“I just got so many requests for tickets for Seville. I got about 15, so I did my best.
“There were people I hadn’t spoken to in ages who wanted tickets, family who wanted tickets.”
Lowry’s rise to one of the hottest prospects in the Scottish game is remarkable.
He’s gone in a very short time from playing against the likes of Stirling University, Civil Service Strollers and Dalbeattie Star in front of a couple of hundred fans to sitting on the bench at a European final.
And, though Lowry admits he has to give himself a shake to prove it hasn’t been a dream, he reckons there is no chance of it going to his head.
He said: “A year ago I would have been on holiday by now, and in transition from the Under-18s to the B team.
“If they said at the start of the year this was going to happen to me, I would have thought it was a dream. No way would I have believed I would be in this position.
“It’s been incredible so far.
“There was a big change when I made my debut, and the spotlight was on me for a while. That took a bit of getting used to.
“But everyone in my family seems to have coped well and they are proud, but keeping me grounded, which is the main thing.
“I’ll still get the ‘big-time’ shouts now and again though!
“So my life has changed in some parts, but I am still the same person, with the same family.
“It’s a privilege to be called up for the Under-21s. I scored one of my better goals for the Under-19s against Croatia, which secured qualification for the Elite Round.
“But Belgium will be tough. At the top level, they are one of the best teams in the world, and I am expecting the same from their Under-21s.”