Maurice Edu rates Rangers teammate Jamie Ness as Scotland's 'next big thing'.

Scotland Under-19 ace Ness has emerged as one of the finds of the season after being dogged by injury.

It's meant Edu has struggled for a look-in after returning from a knee injury picked up in November.

Edu, 24, told the Scottish Sun: "Jamie hasn't surprised me. Since I've been at the club I've always thought he was a quality player. He's been a little bit unlucky with injuries so I'm really happy for him to get a chance now.

"I actually tell him in training every day: 'Keep me out of the team - that's your job now'. It sounds funny and stupid on my part but Jamie's a good player. I tell him every day to keep playing well and stay in that team.

"Obviously, it's my job to get back in the side, but you need competition for places in every team and we have that at Rangers.

"Jamie's done tremendously well. It's hard to compare him to me at his age because back then I wasn't involved in a system like this. But he's taken his opportunity very well. He's a very level-headed kid who works hard every day in training and has been gifted with real ability.

"But what impresses most people is his composure. He has the ambition to want to get better as a player. That's what you need when you are at that age in an environment like this.

"As for my fitness I'm getting there, although I still need a few more games under my belt."