Ibrox is home sweet home for Rangers striker Martyn Waghorn

A move to Ibrox this summer didn’t exactly see Martyn Waghorn walk into last chance saloon, but it was an opportunity he had to make the most of.

The same can be said for the likes of Rob Kiernan and James Tavernier, two of his former team-mates at Wigan who had made a succession of switches in their careers but never settled down and stayed in one place for very long. Now, Ibrox is home sweet home.

Having been on the books of six clubs previously, Waghorn is settled off the pitch and in fine form on it for Mark Warburton’s side.

His wife and son have recently joined him in Glasgow and are getting used to life in the city as he continues to impress in Light Blue and storm the scoring charts.

He netted seven goals in five games in September, a run that saw him named the Championship Player of the Month, and has his first piece of silverware to put on his new mantelpiece.

It could have been seen as a risk for the Englishman to make the move across the border, but it is a gamble that has paid off as he, and his team-mates, have found a fire in their belly and set about proving any doubters wrong.

Waghorn said: “Yeah, definitely. I think that some players have had their knock-backs or set-backs is part of it.

“Then, to come to a club like Rangers and work for this gaffer, it gives everyone a real hunger and desire to win things, to win trophies.

“The chance we’ve got to do that now is driving everyone on.

“I know it has given me a second chance. It has given me that opportunity to really be something, be what I can be. I’m at the right club to do that.

“When I heard of the interest, I had known his son from Leicester, I knew the manager had been to see me a couple of times and tried to sign me before, but it never really happened.

“So when I knew there was this chance, I was desperate to come up here – especially because it was joining a club like Rangers.

“The history here, the direction the club were going in, it was a no-brainer for me. And I got to work with the gaffer.”

With 14 goals from 14 games for Rangers, Waghorn has certainly made the most of his chance to impress so far as he has helped Warburton’s side open up a considerable lead in the Championship standings.

His record from his time at the likes of Charlton, Hull and Millwall never signalled that he had this kind of run in him, but Warburton’s faith has proven well placed.

The striker hopes his efforts this term will be rewarded with the Championship title, but it is not just the here and now he is focusing on.

Waghorn said: “It’s about seeing how far I can go with Rangers. I’m here for, hopefully, a long time and I want to achieve a lot during that time.

“I think where Rangers can go in the next couple of years is why I came here. I want to be part of something successful and really achieve a lot of things at this club.

“If I can get us back into the Premier League and qualify for Europe, then go from there.

“So I don’t see this as a stepping stone to go anywhere else. This is where I want to be.”

A Championship medal may be the ultimate aim from his first campaign in Scotland but Waghorn has already had plenty of reasons to celebrate.

He has followed Tavernier’s lead and picked up a monthly player prize, while his manager has collected two from two this term.

His achievements so far have been impressive, but he is determined there will be plenty more to follow individually and collectively.

Waghorn said: “It’s nice to get the acknowledgement but I think any one of the boys could have won it this month.

“We’ve worked really well together. But I’m very pleased.

“Who would I have voted for? Me!

“I got nominated a couple of times down south but never won anything, so it’s nice. Hopefully I can achieve a few more.

“I never questioned whether this was the right decision or not. This is a massive club and I’m here to work hard, put it in every week.

“It’s good that it’s been acknowledged but I know I’ve got to keep working, got to keep performing.”