Loan Ranger Tom Walsh reckons furthering his footballing education with Dumbarton can help him make the grade at Ibrox.

The 19-year-old played his part on Saturday as Stephen Aitken’s Championship battlers held on for a 0-0 draw with Premiership Dundee in the fifth round of the William Hill Scottish Cup.

Troon teenager Walsh is on loan with the Sons until the summer after moving on loan from Rangers last month and the tricky midfielder insists he’s already benefitting from a change of scene.

Dumbarton’s defenders had to remain as solid as the town’s famous rock as Dundee mounted a series of assaults.

But Walsh was full of praise for his resolute team-mates – and admitted he’s adding another string to his bow which he believes will stand his development in good stead.

He said: “My defending is something that I need to work on but I’m having to put in more of a shift for the team here at Dumbarton and that’s a side of my game that’s improving.

“I think I’ve certainly come on since coming here and I think I’ll go back to Rangers a better player in the summer.”

There wasn’t much scope for Walsh to do much damage at the other end of the park as Dundee dominated affairs.

But in an industrious display, the Gers kid caused the visitors one or two anxious moments in the game’s latter stages with a couple of dangerous crosses into the box which new recruit, Christian Nade, nearly got on the end of.

Walsh added: “I put in a couple of crosses which were just inches from Christian's head but hopefully he'll start putting a few away and then that makes me look good.

“It will be tough in the replay at Dens but we showed that we can compete so who knows. It's the cup, after all.”