NICKY CLARK today predicted the Rangers young guns will continue to feature extensively for the Ibrox club despite the end of the signing ban.

The 12-month transfer embargo imposed on the Gers by the SFA for the non-payment of taxes during the Craig Whyte era expired at midnight on Saturday.

And Cammy Bell, Clark, Jon Daly, Ricky Foster, Nicky Law, Belil Mohsni, Arnold Perlata and Stevie Smith are all registered players now.

The eight new signings can all be fielded in the SPFL League One meeting with Arbroath at Ibrox on Saturday week.

That could limit the number of first-team appearances Murray Park graduates like Fraser Aird, Robbie Crawford, Chris Hegarty and Kyle McAusland make.

But Clark, who scored after 30 seconds of his competitive debut in the 5-0 thrashing of East Fife on Saturday, has been impressed with the Light Blue kids.

The 22-year-old believes that manager McCoist will carry on fielding them extensively in the 2013/14 campaign and beyond.

"I definitely think that the young boys will continue to be involved even though the manager can play all of his new signings now," he said.

"You need competition for places at a club in order to be successful and the young guys will help to provide that this season.

"They are all pushing for places in the first team. They have been involved this season and last season and they want to play on a regular basis now.

"I think we have got a good mix of young and experienced players in the team and I have no doubt the manager will continue to give the young lads their chance.

"I enjoyed making my competitive debut against East Fife on Saturday and it was obviously great for me to score my first goal so early on.

"But I know I am going to have to keep playing well and scoring goals with so many good players in the squad pushing for a start."

Clark, who joined Rangers on a free transfer from Queen of the South in the summer, has been particularly impressed with Lewis Macleod since arriving at Ibrox.

The 20-year-old midfielder scored his third goal in as many SPFL League One matches in the win over East Fife at the weekend.

His team-mate is confident the Scotland Under-21 international will be a key player for the Light Blues in the push for silverware this season.

He said: "Lewis is a great player. He showed the ability that he has with the way that he took his goal against East Fife.

"The way he just cruises through games is just exceptional. He has also shown that he can score goals. He is a real threat for us.

"I think Lewis will be very hard for the manager to leave out of the team with the way that he is playing in midfield."