McLaughlin ready to push for place with Rangers and Scotland

Rangers new signing Jon McLaughlin insists he hasn’t move to Ibrox just to sit on the bench and he intends to impress for club and country.

The goalkeeper has joined Steven Gerrard’s side after a spell with Sunderland but faces a tough task to be selected as first choice ahead of Rangers stalwart Allan McGregor.

McGregor has been firmly established as the club’s number one in recent years and McLaughlin said he respected the veteran’s status and ability.

He said he has to work to show his worth and take his chance when it comes.

“I certainly hope that I’m not coming here just to fill a space on the bench,” he said.

“Of course this is a massive football club with a very good squad of players and a fantastic goalkeeper and I just want to be part of that squad and push it forward, improve the overall squad and be ready when called upon.

“Hopefully that can be sooner rather than later but I understand what I’m coming into and the task ahead. I’m looking forward to that challenge because if I can make that work then it would be an incredible journey to be part of.

“When I had initial meetings with the gaffer and the club, it was the case that they want to have serious competition in all positions on the pitch. If you’re going to be at the very top then good clubs have that throughout.

“They don’t have people just along for the ride or just sitting on the bench if you want to be competitive. At a serious level.”

McLaughlin said that he had discussed the situation with Gerrard before signing his deal with the club and was told that he had the opportunity to earn playing time and show what he could do.

“I hope they were true in what they said and the manager said that they want me to compete for that shirt but of course you understand completely the way that it works,” he said.

“Greegsy has been doing fantastically and he has the position by right. You have to come and just do everything you can not to take that away from them but so that the manager can see that you can fill that space when needed, whenever that is, and be ready to contribute as soon as you are asked.”

McLaughlin’s performances at Hearts and then Sunderland saw him break into the Scotland squad and he wants the opportunity to establish himself at international level with Steve Clarke’s squad.

But the keeper knows that success at club level is key to being the man in goal when Scotland face Israel in October.

“I want to be a valuable member of the squad and contributing regularly,” he said. “All of that hopefully, will only strengthen my cause with the national team.

“It’s a real privilege to be involved in that and the play-off game is coming up, and beyond that we don’t know.

“So I hope to continue to be involved in the national team set-up and from that point of view I want to give 100% every day to force my way into that reckoning and hopefully keep that national team spot alive for myself.”