RANGERS forward Barrie McKay reckons his spell on loan at Morton helped him become a regular starter under Mark Warburton.

Wideman McKay spent the second half of the 2013-14 campaign at Cappielow, making 14 starts, four substitute appearances and scoring three goals.

The 21-year-old was then farmed out to Raith Rovers for most of the following season before heading back to Ibrox and forcing his way into the Gers first-team this term.

Although McKay, who will return to face the Ton on Monday night, admitted his loan spells were eye-opening experiences, he enjoyed his stints at both clubs and feels they benefited him.

He said: “I always believed in my own ability that I could come back and kind of force myself in, and obviously the change of gaffer really helped me from that perspective.

“Getting sent out on loan benefitted me.

“I went out and got that experience, but you also feel like you’re not really wanted there [at Rangers] at the time and you’re not really needed.

“I felt the teams that took me on loan wanted me, so I got out, played in games and saw the different side of football that you don’t see every day at Murray Park or coming every week to Ibrox.

“So it was a big change but it was one that I really enjoyed.”