Rangers starlet Josh Gentles is making serious waves out on loan as the 19-year-old striker continues an eye-catching run of individual form in senior football.

The talented young forward first began turning heads during the international break while away with Stevie Smith’s Rangers Under-19 side. Across two fixture outings, Gentles dominated the headlines by producing a remarkable backheel assist alongside two stunning long-range strikes from outside the penalty area.

That explosive week away from domestic action clearly provided a massive shot of confidence for the teenager, and he has wasted no time translating that swagger directly into his senior loan spell.

After bagging his first competitive League One goal for Airdrieonians in last weekend’s hard-fought 2-2 draw against East Kilbride, the Ibrox prospect was back on the scoresheet once again on Saturday (17 October) afternoon during a home clash against Hamilton Academical.

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Josh Gentles scores for Airdrieonians again, manager labels Rangers loanee a ‘gem’

With Airdrie trailing 1-0 early in the second period, Gentles showcased the exact blend of work rate, sharpness, and composure that Rangers academy coaches have long praised. Just two minutes after the restart, the young forward initiated a high press, catching Hamilton centre-back Fergus Owens completely off guard following a routine back pass.

Gentles stripped the defender of possession deep inside the Hamilton half before driving at speed down the left channel. Facing up to Tony Gallacher inside the penalty area, the teenager cleverly teed up his angle, cutting inside to unleash a curling effort. The strike took a deflection off Gallacher and looped gracefully over the helpless goalkeeper into the back of the net to draw Airdrie level at 1-1.

Although Hamilton ultimately struck late to snatch a 2-1 win and take all three points, Gentles’ individual display remained the defining talking point after the final whistle.

Speaking to Airdrieonians’ in-house media after the match, manager John Rankin was full of admiration for the young attacker’s impact, setting him a challenge to keep his scoring streak alive in the weeks ahead.

“Josh [Gentles] goes and gets his second goal. The challenge to him is: can we go and get a goal again next week and get yourself on a good run? We found a gem, let me let me say that. He’s a 19-year-old, and I look at him, and I think he’s developing really, really well. We need to make sure he continues to do that.

“It’s our duty to make sure he goes on the pitch, and make sure there are people around him and play to his strengths… We need to make sure we’re getting the best out of ourselves in our attacking form, and today, I thought Josh was great. I thought he was excellent within the game, but we need to give him more opportunities and get more people in there.”

With two goals in consecutive league starts and public backing from his manager, Gentles is rapidly establishing himself as one of the most exciting young Rangers loanees to monitor this season. His tactical awareness, pressing intensity, and knack for creating goals out of nothing suggest his development is on a steep upward trajectory.