DAVID WEIR is confident winger Barrie McKay can handle the step up in class and rise to the challenge of competition for his Rangers starting spot in the Premiership next season.

The 21-year-old turned in a series of superb showings for Mark Warburton’s side last term as he grabbed his chance to impress and played a key role in the Gers’ Championship title triumph.

His fine form was rewarded with a new Light Blues deal and a call-up into the Scotland squad for the matches with Italy and France.

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Now Ibrox assistant manager Weir knows McKay must take his game to the next level if he is to have as big an impact in the top flight.

Glasgow Times:

He said: “You look at the young Scottish lads and Barrie's a prime example. He was drifting in his career.

“I was speaking to someone yesterday and they said they'd played against Raith and Barrie was a substitute for them in a league game.

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“He obviously has talent and it's great credit to him how far he's come in the space of a year. He's an international now, he's had a great season for us.

“He's started to get back to the level where he needs to be. But I think there's still loads of improvement in him.

“He's so talented but he sees people like Harry Forrester and Niko Kranjcar coming in and he says to himself, 'that's the challenge for me'.

“He's got a question to answer now as well - can he make himself 10-20 percent better, improve himself as a player and improve us as a team.”