THEY were the two that got away ... but the disappointment soon turned to celebration for Martyn Waghorn.

The striker may not have marked his first appearance in Light Blue in perfect fashion, but his achievements on his competitive bow more than made up for it.

Waghorn was handed his Rangers debut just hours after he signed on the dotted line last week, the friendly fixture with Burnley finally giving the Ibrox crowd a chance to see Mark Warburton’s side in action this summer.

He would show up well on an encouraging night for the Gers, but was still left with feelings of what might have been after passing up two chances to find the Ibrox net for the first time.

On Saturday, he proved he knows the route to goal as he fired Rangers to victory over Hibernian, his Easter Road brace the first strikes of what he hopes will be many in his maiden campaign in Scotland.

A poacher’s finish from inside the area and a powerful effort that was too hot for keeper Mark Oxley to handle capped another fine performance from the former Sunderland, Leicester and Wigan frontman.

And Waghorn is determined there is plenty more to come as he looks to lead from the front in Light Blue this term.

“It was a very pleasing game personally and I am really happy with the two goals,” he told SportTimes.

“The team got the win and got through to the next round, so overall, I was delighted.

“It was disappointing not to score against Burnley with the header and the volley.

“If I am being over-critical, I should have got a bit more on the header. It was only my second day at the club and I thought we played well.

“We are never happy with a defeat, but the boys played well.

“For my second game, to get two goals and a win like that, I am very happy.

“It shows how we want to play this season and it is something to build on.

“With the squad we have got and the quality we possess, if I miss the target I know that I am always going to get another chance. I have got to think ‘one chance, one goal’.

“I will look to bring a lot more to the team as well. I will work hard, I want to create chances and, if I don’t score, hopefully I will be able to set up the boys.

“At the end of the day, it is about getting into the next round or getting the three points.”

Waghorn’s first goals for Rangers came either side of superb strikes from fellow new arrivals James Tavernier and Andy

Halliday as the Light Blues got off and running in style this season.

It was left to an Ibrox veteran to add a shine to a polished performance from Rangers, though, Kenny Miller staking his claim for a place with a well-taken late double after assists from Nicky Clark and Barrie McKay.

Waghorn has impressed in his first two appearances for Warburton’s side, but the 25-year-old knows he must continue to set the bar as high as possible as he fends off competition for his starting berth.

He said: “It just shows the quality of the squad. We have got Nicky, and Kenny came on and scored twice.

“They have got good experience and have done well in the past.

“So I will have to keep working hard in training every day to keep my place. I never take anything for granted. No player in this squad can.

“We have got a great team, a great team ethic, and we are all going to work hard and really push ourselves to help us achieve what we want to achieve this season.”

There may have been areas of frustration for boss Warburton at Easter Road on Saturday, but the final outcome, and the way in which it was achieved, has given fans another boost ahead of the new Ladbrokes Championship campaign.

The 52-year-old has arrived at Ibrox determined to make his mark on Rangers and implement a fresh approach and way of thinking right across the football department.

The signs so far have been encouraging for the Gers, and Waghorn is confident the Warburton way will bring out the best in him.

“When I first met the gaffer and David Weir, they told us how they wanted to play and I think that has shown in the friendly and on Saturday,” he said. “We want to pass it, but we want to work hard, get the ball back as quickly as we can and press high.

“It is going to be a while until I am fully settled in, but I feel, with the way the gaffer wants to play and the boys play, it will be relatively easy. They are a great set of lads and hopefully we can build on Saturday’s victory.”

Having got their campaign off to an eye-catching start with a six-star showing in Leith, Rangers will make their first competitive outing of the

season at Ibrox this weekend.

The League Cup tie against Peterhead is their final fixture before the Championship opener against St Mirren a week on Friday.

And Waghorn can’t wait to run out on home soil once again as Warburton’s side look to make it two from two so far this term. He said: “I am really looking forward to it and it will be a completely different challenge again.

“Peterhead will be different from Hibernian and we know what we need to work on and we will have a game plan and structure to look to beat them.

“It is another challenge, but I am really looking forward to making my competitive debut at home.”