FORMER Rangers midfielder Alex Rae hopes Andy Murdoch can make the most of his loan spell away from Ibrox and prove he can be a Light Blue hit in the future.

The 20-year-old has clinched a move to Cowdenbeath until January after struggling to make a breakthrough into Mark Warburton’s side so far this season.

Midfielder Robbie Crawford also headed for the exit door as he joined Alloa until the New Year, while Danny Stoney was released from his deal on a quiet deadline day at Ibrox.

Murdoch made 21 appearances for Rangers last term but the arrivals of Andy Halliday, Jason Holt and Gedion Zelalem have pushed him down the Gers pecking order.

And Rae reckons his time in League One will benefit him in the long run as he gets set for a sustained run of action for the Blue Brazil.

He told SportTimes: “The key thing for Andy is to be playing regularly and by going to Cowdenbeath he will be able to get more games in the first team than he would do at Rangers this season.

“He has progressed in the last couple of years and he done well towards the end of last season and now by going to Cowdenbeath it is another step in his development.

“Having a move like this is better for him than being in and out or playing Under-20 football.

“Mark Warburton wants to go with a smaller squad and if you aren’t considered for that squad on a regular basis, especially if you are a younger player, then it is going to hold you back and you can be left in limbo a bit.

“After coming into the team last season, Andy will have wanted to just go and play this season and it hasn’t quite happened for him so far.

“Going out on loan, you are playing against guys that been round the block and they will give you a really good test.

“It is better for young players to go and play at a competitive level and I think it is a good bit of business for Rangers.

“It gives the boys a chance to go and get a bit more experience and then come back to Rangers with a lot more to offer and try and push into the team.”

While Rangers fans will see little of Murdoch or Crawford in the coming months after they made their way out of the club yesterday, they are expecting big things from Arsenal starlet Zelalem.

The 18-year-old has impressed in his two appearances for Warburton’s side since moving on loan until January and is poised to be a key player in the Gers’ Championship title challenge.

Rae said: “I have seen him against Airdrie and at the weekend against Queen of the South and he is clearly a very talented player.

“He is very technically gifted but he would never have experienced the rough and tumble of life in the Championship before. He got a bit of rough treatment at times.

“But that is all part of his development and why he has made the move to Rangers.

“He is very good on the ball and he has a lot of really good attributes but he doesn’t look like he is a physical presence.

“He will learn quickly at Rangers and his time here will certainly stand him in good stead for going back to Arsenal.”

Having done most of his transfer business earlier in the window, it was to prove a fairly straightforward final day for Warburton as the deadline came and went without any further arrivals at Ibrox.

Former Derby County captain John Eustace is still training with Warburton’s squad and Rae reckons he will be another solid signing if a deal is done.

He said: “He is a good professional, he has been around the game a long time and it is not just what he will provide on the park that Mark will be looking at I am sure.

“He will be good about the place, he has good principles and Mark obviously rates him and thinks he will be a good influence on the squad.

“Because he is a free agent, there was never any rush to get that deal done before the deadline so Rangers are right to be patient and get the deal done when it is right.”