RANGERS midfielder Robbie Crawford is ready to make an impact with his local team after completing a deadline-busting loan move to Morton last night.

Gourock native Crawford agreed a four-month temporary transfer that will tie him to the Cappielow club until 1 January 2015.

The paperwork was pushed through in time to meet yesterday’s 11pm cut off, with the registration completed just after 9pm.

Former First Touch player Crawford signed for Rangers aged eight and has made 52 appearances since making his first-team breakthrough in the summer of 2012. But the 21-year-old central midfielder is now looking forward to getting some game time with the Ton after finding himself on the fringes at Ibrox this season.

Speaking exclusively to the Tele last night, he said: “I’m delighted to have signed. Morton are obviously my local team and it’s a great opportunity to show what I can do.

“The first game I ever went to when I was young was a Morton game, but I joined Rangers when I was eight so have been a fan of them since then.

“The fact they are my local team is obviously something you take into account. I’m excited about the move and really looking forward to it. I spoke to the chairman and the manager at Morton yesterday and I’m going to learn a lot playing under Jim Duffy. That was a factor in coming here too.

“It’s always frustrating when you don’t play; it’s the same at any club. But Rangers are a massive club and they’ve made a lot of big signings this year. So it was important for me to get some game time and experience somewhere else to hopefully get back in contention at some point this season or next season.

“I haven’t spoken to Barrie McKay about the move since the opportunity came up but I do know he enjoyed his time there last season and had a lot of good things to say.

“My aims are to get game time and help Morton win as many games as possible. I want to prove to everyone that I am good enough to be at Morton first and then make the step back to Rangers.

“Ally McCoist spoke to me and just said to go and express myself and enjoy it, and get as much experience as possible. That’s what I aim to do.

“I start training with Morton on Wednesday.

“It will be good to get in, get started, meet the players and see what it’s all about.” Ton boss Jim Duffy was thrilled to be able to bring Crawford to Cappielow and says his creativity will be a vital with Jamie McCluskey likely to be sidelined for another month.

He said: “Robbie is a very talented player.

“He was keen to come here, which was important and made everything a little bit easier, and we were delighted to have him.

“With Jamie McCluskey going to be out injured for quite a while yet, at least another four weeks, then it was important to add a creative, forward-thinking midfielder. Robbie certainly gives us that.

“He’s been signed to give us more options going forward in terms of linking up the play and being a threat, be that scoring or creating goals.

“Robbie’s also got a very good appetite for hard work. He’s a very fit lad and getting back and up and down the pitch won’t faze him.

“Overall, I felt we still need a bit more competition for places. It challenges players to maintain high standards in order to keep their place.

“I think Robbie’s a really good addition to the team and hopefully he can produce the type of form he has shown in the Rangers first-team.”