Connor Barron admits he would be “buzzing” if named in the next Scotland squad but says international recognition will only come if he performs well at Rangers.
The midfielder has been talked about as a possible inclusion when Steve Clarke names his squad next week for the upcoming Nations League matches against Poland and Portugal.
With Callum McGregor retiring from international football and Lewis Ferguson still side-lined with injury, there’s an opportunity for a new face to be handed a chance and Barron seems to be well positioned to grab that chance.
The 21-year-old has hit the ground running with Rangers since making the move from Aberdeen in the summer and says that stepping up to international football would be a dream come true.
“Obviously it’s performances on the pitch that merit that,” Barron said. “If it comes along then I will be buzzing.
“It’s out of my hands, I just try to do my talking on the pitch and perform as well as I can.
“If it happens, it happens. It’s all about me being a Rangers player and doing my job for the club.
“I think I mentioned in my first interview here that it was on my mind [to get into the Scotland squad] but first and foremost it’s about doing it for Rangers. If I’ve got good enough performances then you never know what can happen.”
Barron has been thrown straight into Philippe Clement’s side and played Champions League qualifiers as well as league and cup matches in a short period of time. He feels he’s fitted in well and is in the right place to further develop his game.
“I know what I can do, what I can bring to the team and what we’ve got here,” he said. “It’s just about me keeping on improving and I know there’s lots more to come from me. It’s just the start.
“It’s just the start for us as a team as well this season and we need to kick on in every game and keep improving and ultimately keep winning games.
“I had a good feeling when I came in and knew it was the right place for me. I’ve settled in quickly and it’s been made easy by people around the club.
“The style of play is very different to what I’ve been used to I the past but I knew it would be and I knew it would suit me.”
While playing at Hampden in a Scotland jersey is a target for the former youth international, Rangers’ current stadium issue means he is playing at the national stadium for his club right now.
Ross County are the visitors for this weekend’s Premiership match but it’s been reported that Rangers’ residency may be short-live, with a return to Ibrox possibly happening before their next scheduled home game against Dundee on September 21.
Barron played down the importance of the news, but said it would be good for everyone to be back at Ibrox.
“We would be buzzing to get back home but the venue doesn’t bother us as players,” he said. “We’ve got to do our job.
“We’ve got to win games and wherever we are, that’s where we get judged.
“If we’re back [at Ibrox] then we’ll be delighted but Saturday is at Hampden and we’ve got to go and do a job.”
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