ROBBY McCRORIE knows his form will speak for itself.

The Rangers goalkeeper spent last season on loan at Livingston in the Premiership following a stint as Queen of the South number one, and news of his impressive performances filtered back to manager Steven Gerrard. So it was no surprise to see the Ibrox manager tie him up on a new three-year deal towards the end of last week.

He has proved he can cut it in Scotland's top tier already at just 22-years-old, suggesting his future lies between the sticks for the Light Blues. All that remains to be seen, perhaps, but early conversations with Gerrard indicate the young stopper does have a bright future at Rangers.

McCrorie, though, is under no illusions that he still has a way to go. Ousting Allan McGregor and recent signing Jon McLaughlin from their spot will take some time. For his development, the goalie believes he has to play. He has to continue to prove to his manager that he can be a consistent presence in a Premiership side. To stand him in good stead to eventually make his case as a Gers number one in future.

It's why he's open to another loan spell this season - with Livi interested once again. "I thought the loan [at Livi] was going well," McCrorie told H&T Sport. "I'd played eight games and had a few decent matches. I felt like I was getting somewhere and we were going into the split and I was looking forward to it, then everything happened. But I'm glad I made the step up, I was always confident of doing so. I feel as though I'm capable of playing at [Premiership] level, now I just want to play a full season, play consistently and try to be a standout.

"As long as I keep doing my bit on a Saturday and I'm doing well, people will say I'm doing well and I'll be noticed. There are scouts at the games as well so the gaffer doesn't need to be there, if things are getting fed back to him. In fairness, all the loan deals I've had previously have worked that I'm able to train with Rangers at the start of the week, so he still sees me train.

"And I've had a few general chats with the manager. I've had a sit down with the club when I signed the deal and the manager made it clear he was keen to get the deal done. Hopefully, all being well, they see a future for me. It's good, especially someone like Steven Gerrard, is having chats with me and he's open and honest, so you know where you stand.

"He has played at the highest level, with the best players so he knows what is required and what it's like to play in a team with a goalkeeper who performs at a top level. It's good getting that wee bit of trust and he can see the potential there. Right now it's down to myself, that's why I've been going in more, all I can affect is playing well when I am in training, that I'm giving it a good go and doing by own part."

On potentially leaving the club again on loan to earn minutes, he said: "It's something we're working on together with the club and the gaffer because at the end of the day I'm young and I think the best thing for me is to be playing. The club recognise that, I want it and have pushed for it, so hopefully pretty soon something will get sorted. I think last season has helped me in terms of options for this year so I think that's the level the club wants to see me at."

Rangers signing Scotland internationalist Jon McLaughlin this summer has signalled a tougher route for McCrorie into the first-team, but the youngster always expected that. What it has brought, though, is even more experience for the ex-Morton loanee to learn from.

"Even before Jon came in he was an experienced goalkeeper and he's played a lot of games, with the national team and playing at a big club with big pressure," McCrorie added. "He's got that experience which relates to a club like Rangers. He's a good guy and I think every goalkeeper I've trained with or watched, I'll be looking to see if I can take wee bits from their game to see if it can make me a better goalkeeper.

"It's more competition and that's what you need. The better the competition, the better player you become, so it's definitely a positive. Both Jon and Allan McGregor are very open if you were to come forward and ask for advice they'd give you an honest answer. It's two international goalkeepers which is great for me because I want to push myself to eventually get to that level so it's a great focus for me to be able to learn from them."