Derek McInnes has assured Findlay Curtis he is a big part of his Rangers plans despite a lack of starts.

All but four of the 20-year-old Scotland winger's 17 Rangers appearances this season have been as a substitute, with his last start coming in early September.

Curtis, who impressed on loan with Kilmarnock last season, signed a contract extension at Ibrox in January 2025 that reportedly runs until the end of the current campaign.

"There's no shame in not getting into this Rangers team week in, week out," said manager McInnes.

"He's got good competition there, but Findlay is a boy that I really enjoy working with from my first conversation with him. I phoned him when he was in Miami at the World Cup and it was such a positive experience for him.

"I'm really looking forward to working with him going forward as well. I think Findlay's been involved in most games, either starting or coming off the bench, and getting those minutes is vitally important.

"But for any player, whether it's homegrown or not, they've got to accept that at Rangers there should be competition for places.

"You don't waste your minutes. If you're in the team, do your best to stay in the team. And Findlay has contributed really well for us, really strongly. He is a good trainer, a brilliant kid.

"He knows how much we want him to be here longer term. The club have made that clear to him as well. And Findlay's telling me that he wants to be here.

"He wants to win trophies here. This is his club. He can speak for himself, but he knows what we think about him.

"And I'm not here to say to him be patient because I want him to be in a hurry to get more starts. But I believe that he is well on his way to being a good Rangers player going forward.

"And hopefully this season he can get the minutes that he's happy with."