Carl Frampton has hailed young footballer Blaine McClure following the North Belfast teenager's move to Rangers.
Blaine has agreed a three-year deal with the Light Blues after impressing with Linfield Academy in recent months.
The 16-year-old had been on the radar of a number of clubs across the water, but he will swap Windsor Park for Ibrox after choosing Rangers as his next destination.
Read more: Linfield teens celebrating after sealing big moves to Rangers
Frampton is a family friend and believes Blaine has the worth ethic to go a long way in the game.
He told the Sunday Life: "Growing up in Tiger’s Bay, many of us dreamed of making it as a professional footballer, so I was delighted to hear that a young 16-year-old lad from the Shore Road area, Blaine McClure, has got his move across the water.
"He, along with Callum Burnside from Ballymena, has signed for Rangers having done really well at Linfield. When we were growing up in Tiger’s Bay, it wasn’t Liverpool or Manchester United you wanted to join, but Rangers.
"Blaine is a smashing player and came through at Linfield where everyone had high hopes for him and his hard work has started to pay off by getting his big move to Glasgow.
"He’s a good looking lad and there will be the potential for distractions with girls on the scene, but I really hope he keeps his head screwed on and works hard as I really believe that he can go far."
Former two-weight world boxing champion Frampton added: "I’ve spoken before about another young lad from Tiger’s Bay, Dale Taylor, who is now on loan at Burton Albion from Nottingham Forest and is already a Northern Ireland international, having made his debut against Lithuania in 2021. He has led the way for other youngsters, including Blaine.
"I still see these lads as kids, but they will have younger lads looking up to them as an example of what can be achieved with hard work and dedication.
"They will be thinking, ‘If they can do it, then I can do it too’.
"That’s what gives people in working-class areas a bit of hope as they see others doing well."
Frampton praised the 'support system' around young sportspeople such as Blaine and Dale Taylor, another professional footballer who has already made his senior Northern Ireland debut.
"It’s not easy for kids these days as there are so many distractions out there and it seems even worse nowadays in terms of drug abuse and everything else that goes with it, so it takes them to be mentally strong to achieve anything in life," Frampton said.
"It would have been easy for Blaine, Dale and other lads to have gone wayward as I’m sure they will know plenty of others who have gone down the wrong path in life and easily could have followed suit, but it’s important that they stay on track and keep switched on.
"It’s also important to have a good support system on top of everything else to have the best opportunity to make it in life."
Frampton also says he wants a signed top from young Blaine to display in his bar at home.
He also joked that the teen must have inherited his football skills from his mother Tammy as his dad Colin has the "touch of an elephant".
He added: "I’m genuinely delighted for these kids as it’s great for the road and I keep a close eye on their progress, so I’ll do the same with Blaine as I did with Dale and I’ve said to Blaine’s dad that I want a signed top for my bar at home as I have a signed Dale Taylor Northern Ireland top from his debut against Lithuania.
"I know Blaine’s mum, Tammy, and dad, Colin, very well.
"Colin, or Victor as he is better known, played on the same Loughside Boys team as me when we were kids and he was someone who would have gotten stuck in and was a half decent player.
"He had the touch of a baby elephant, so I have a feeling Blaine gets his football skills from Tammy."
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