LEON KING has earned major praise from former Rangers boss Alex McLeish for his performance in the Champions League clash against Liverpool.

The young centre-back, 18, was handed a start at Anfield as Giovanni van Bronckhorst opted for a five-man defence in the 2-0 defeat.

And McLeish reckons it was an "amazing night" for the youngster who enjoyed a solid showing - despite fouling Luis Diaz for a penalty.

But the former Rangers boss praised King for his mostly "calm and composed" performance in the defeat as he theorised the defender must've been overcome with nerves ahead of such a major chance against elite European opposition.

“He must have been bricking it, honestly," joked McLeish speaking to Football Insider.

“I remember getting my debut in a big game back in the day, I remember thinking my first touch, header, pass, it all had to be good.

“To be fair, I thought he had a tremendous game given his youth and the fact that he was going right into the cauldron.

“He was up against those three forwards who were absolutely electric to start with. He was calm and composed."

While McLeish was impressed with King in the Champions League defeat he's unsure whether he'll have earned a starting spot going forward for Van Bronckhorst.

The defender has been in the matchday squad for Rangers this season with Connor Goldson and James Sands often Van Bronckhorst's selected defensive partnership.

But with Sands suspended for the Liverpool match, and John Souttar and Filip Helander sidelined with injury problems, King was handed a major chance.

For McLeish, King took it and performed admirably as he suggested the minutes against Liverpool will only boost King's confidence.

He added: “I don’t think I could ever say he got exposed badly so it was a good performance by King. It enhances your confidence and he will now be bursting to go and play the next game.

“Whether he gets chosen or not is a different matter but it was an amazing night for him.”