Scott Gallacher has two significant obstacles blocking the path to his dream spot in the Rangers first team.

His route from Murray Park to Ibrox detours via Forfar, but the young goalkeeper has no qualms about being farmed out on loan in a bid to gain first-team experience.

The 21-year-old was a member of the Gers’ under-19 sides that won consecutive league and cup doubles and, while the presence of Allan McGregor and Neil Alexander mean there is little chance of a breakthrough, for now at least, the loan Ranger reckons his football apprenticeship is in safe hands.

“It is certainly not easy for me,” Gallacher said. “Allan and Neil are two top-class goalies and they have done very well for themselves.

“They are consistent players who battle for their place every week, it is good competition.

“I trained alongside them and I got along really well with them, they are top guys.

“They are great professionals and great players for Rangers.

“They are the ones who set the standards which I have got to aim for.

“I signed a two-year deal in the summer, which was good, so we will see what happens. I just need to focus on doing well this season and take it from there.

“It is a great club to be at, it’s the place you want to be and where you want to play your football, especially if you are in Scotland.”

Gallacher has agreed a deal with Dick Campbell’s side until the end of the year and the youngster hopes it can be the ideal launchpad for his career.

He said: “It is good, it gets me games and first- team experience.

“It is really important to be playing regularly, I can feel the benefit of it already. It helps you get noticed and make a name for yourself.

“Hopefully I can go back to Rangers and make an impact.”

Gallacher will be forced to look on as his Gers team-mates star in the Champions League but he has his own big games on the horizon.

Scotland Under-21s face Belarus and Austria in the coming days as they bid to qualify for the European Cham-pionships and he is ambitious.

He said: “It doesn’t matter who you are playing, whether it is Manchester United or Montrose. You want to win the game, that is always the main thing.

“It would make things a bit easier for us to qualify if we can win the first game tomorrow, but we will go looking to win the two games.”