MARK WARBURTON is confident Barrie McKay can go from strength to strength at Rangers after stealing the show against Celtic on Sunday.

The winger turned in a superb performance as the Gers booked their place in the Scottish Cup final with a penalties victory over their Old Firm rivals.

McKay put Warburton’s side ahead in extra-time with a stunning long-range effort and then converted from the spot to help the Light Blues set up a final showdown with Hibernian.

And the Ibrox boss has hailed his wing king as McKay has made the most of his chance to shine this season.

Warburton said: “I love that, I love the width and the fact we make the pitch as big as we possibly can and keep moving the ball.

“Barrie has just turned 21, he was out on loan at a couple of smaller clubs and from day one he has been outstanding.

“He is technically gifted, rapid, one of the quickest players at the club. He reminds me of the likes of Eddie Gray, that type of Scottish winger.

“He has got every trick in the book and he will get better and better.

“There is still loads of development to come from him but [I am] very, very impressed. I am pleased for Barrie.

“Some people doubted him but, for me, he has got a really bright future ahead of him. He showed [on Sunday] more than a glimpse of what he is capable of.”

Having already landed the Championship title and Petrofac Training Cup this term, Warburton is just 90 minutes away from adding the Scottish Cup to his CV in his first campaign in Light Blue.

The Englishman has been linked with a number of positions south of the border in recent months but now has the lure of European football on the horizon at Ibrox.

Warburton said: “It is a fantastic club. It is always flattering when you are linked with jobs.

“There are a lot of really good people who are out of work, so you are never, ever going to disrespect that fact.

“Being linked is very flattering but this is a huge club. I am amazed when people talk about Rangers as a small time club.

“You saw [on Sunday] how big this club is. The support, 50,000 at home games, we play Alloa on Saturday with another 50,000 sell out. It is quite incredible.

“They have come through four, five years of really tough times so they are desperate for success now, they are backing us and supporting the team.

“It is a huge club, a great place to be, and we have got a chance now, if we can beat Hibs, of the Europa league and European football, which is a fantastic plus for any player or manager.”