Hughes in contract extension talk.

Last updated : 31 March 2002 By

Rangers midfielder Stephen Hughes is to be offered an extension to his contract as a matter of priority.

Alex McLeish is an admirer of the 19-year-old and though he still has a couple of years left on his existing contract, McLeish is keen for the youngster to extend this.

Big Eck added "I am talking with Stephen at the moment. We haven't finalised anything yet but we do want to extend his contract further,"

"He is a priority signing for us for now and for the future. We want him to stay at Rangers for a very long time.

"We see him as vital to the club's future and we must continue bringing young boys like him through the system.

"I think he has another couple of years left so we're just extending it and Stephen's happy to talk to us.

"Stephen has earned a wage rise and the policy I've had at the clubs I've been at is I've always given kids incentives to do better and if they do so then we rip up their contracts and start again."

So things are looking bright for Stephen, especially as he has just received his first call up for the Scotland squad.