IAN DURRANT is confident his Murray Park kids can rise to the challenge and see off the threat of players arriving from south of the border.

The Ibrox legend is in charge of the Light Blues’ Under-20 side as he looks to continue the Auchenhowie talent conveyor belt and produce players capable of playing in the Gers’ first team.

Boss Mark Warburton signed Spurs starlets Dominic Ball and Nathan Oduwa and Arsenal wonderkid Gedion Zelalem on loan deals this summer and is keen to give younger players a chance to shine at Ibrox.

The budding Light Blues coming through the Murray Park ranks must hit the heights to be considered for a first team place and Warburton has already turned his attentions to the January transfer window as he bids to bolster his ranks once again.

And Under-20 boss Durrant knows his young talents must make the most of their chance to impress to convince Warburton they can hold down a place in his plans.

He said: “They are training with the first team all the time. The manager knows the market down south and he’s brought in quality. But we tell the boys they have to match that quality or be better.

“If they are going to let people come up on loan and get in the team, they won’t get the chance because the manager will pick the better player. I tell them when they go to train with the first team that they can’t be standing around there - they have to catch the manager’s eye.

“If you want to be a first team player, go and be a first team player. If you want to be an Under-20 player or drift around the lower leagues, you’ll do that and there will be another batch coming in.”

After overhauling his first team squad this summer, Warburton insisted he was happy to dip into the Murray Park ranks as required during the course of the campaign.

Winger Barrie McKay has made a superb start to the season after being given a shot by the Gers boss, while the likes of Ryan Hardie and Fraser Aird have also been involved at stages.

The pathway is there for other youngsters to make the progression into the first team squad as Warburton’s side bid for the Championship title this term.

And Durrant, speaking to promote the Rangers Youth Development Company, is confident his kids can play their part in what he hopes will be a successful campaign at Ibrox.

He said: “They will get the chance and when they get it they have to catch the manager’s eye.

“You can prove so much in the youth department but when they go round to the first team, they’ve got catch his eye.

“There will be injuries and suspensions. The manager runs a tight ship in terms of squad size, so there will be chances. When they get it, they’ve got to take it.

“The quality is there. Ryan Hardie is a proven scorer at youth level and will get a chance.

“Young Fraser is finding his feet again and the difference in Barrie McKay has been frightening.

“He has been different class. The manager has got a new lease of life out of him after going out on loan,

“He’s come back looking like a man now. He has an old head on young shoulders.”