Rangers' foreign legion understand what it means to play at Ibrox, says Graham Dorrans

And Graham Dorrans knows Rangers need the men inside them to stand up and be counted as pressure builds on the Light Blues.

The midfielder realised his lifelong ambition when he moved to Ibrox in the summer and put pen-to-paper on a three-year deal with his boyhood heroes.

Read more: Graham Dorrans: Everyone at Rangers is under pressure because we haven't won enough games

It hasn’t been a nightmare start to his dream campaign, but there is no doubt that Dorrans would have expected better in the opening weeks of the season.

The 30-year-old was one of eleven new recruits that boss Pedro Caixinha brought to Rangers but the Portuguese’s signing record has come under increasing scrutiny throughout an inconsistent run of performances and results.

Former Gers midfielder Charlie Adam stated on Sunday that ‘more British players’ were needed as Caixinha’s side crashed to a damaging defeat to Motherwell in the Betfred Cup semi-finals.

But Dorrans insists the Ibrox foreign legion know exactly what is expected of them this season as Rangers look to transform their fortunes sooner rather than later.

He said: “It is difficult to come and play for this club. It is a massive club.

“Everyone knows that. I have said that before.

Read more: Derek Rae: Pedro Caixinha was given the keys to kingdom but his Rangers reign is crumbling

“But everyone in that dressing room knows the standards needed to play for this club.

“Unfortunately, on Sunday we didn’t reach those standards and that is ultimately why we paid the price.

“We just need players who can go out and win games. Whether they are from Portugal, Columbia, Brazil, anywhere in the world, doesn’t matter. It doesn’t matter if they’re British.

“As long as we go out and win games, that’s what we need. We need winners. At the moment, we’re not winners because we’re not winning games.

“I think there is a bit much made of that (Scottish players knowing about Rangers).

“The foreign boys who have come over know this club is renowned worldwide. You don’t just hear about Rangers when you’re about to sign. Everyone knows about this football club.

“People who come here from all over the world know what it means to play here.

“On Sunday we weren’t at it, we weren’t up to matching them and we paid the price.”

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Eight of the players that started on Sunday were brought to Rangers by Caixinha but his faith wasn’t repaid as his side faltered on the big stage.

The Gers boss was denied the services of injured captain Lee Wallace but once again left striker Kenny Miller out of his Light Blues squad.

The 37-year-old hasn’t played since the Old Firm defeat last month and Dorrans admits both were notable absentees from the team.

He said: “They’ve been here a long time so they know what this club is all about.

“Obviously Lee’s injured and Kenny’s not been picked by the manager but they are still in and around the place and are trying to keep spirits high.

“People like that know what it’s all about. Maybe we do miss them a little bit.

“It’s for the gaffer to deal with. Kenny is a true professional. He’s training every day and is doing what he’s always done since I’ve known him and since I’ve been here. He’ll continue to do that.

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“It’s not for me to go into the details of what’s happened. That’s for the manager to deal with whatever situation there is.

“What I will say is Kenny has come in every day and has trained like a true professional. He’s done the job he’s always done.

“We should [be able to cope without them]. There’s no getting away from the fact we should be getting to cup finals and should be up there competing.

“Obviously on Sunday we didn’t get to the cup final and there’s no getting away from the fact that it wasn’t good enough.”

Having once again suffered a big-game defeat, Rangers go into the Premiership clash with Kilmarnock tonight in desperate need of a result.

Caixinha has yet to win three games on the spin as Light Blues boss and the pressure is on to respond in the right manner.

Dorrans said: “This is a massive club and I have been desperate to come to this club for the last ten years since I have been a professional.

“Coming here for me has been great. It is difficult to come here in the circumstances we are in at the minute and losing on Sunday puts pressure on us.

Read more: Graham Dorrans: Everyone at Rangers is under pressure because we haven't won enough games

“I think we are good enough to go and win the game on Wednesday, build a bit of momentum and go on a run and get the club back to being successful again, challenging for league titles and challenging for cups.

“Sunday wasn’t acceptable but I firmly believe that the group of boys we have got, the staff, the whole club, will get back to where we want to be.”

The future of Caixinha has once again come into sharp focus in recent days and the Portuguese needs to make amends on home soil this evening.

And Dorrans insists the Gers squad are sharing the feelings of frustration with the Light Blue legions ahead of a must-win Ibrox encounter.

He said: “I don’t really speak to [my friends that are Rangers fans] to be honest and I think they know I don’t want to speak about it.

“Listen, I have been a Rangers fan so I know what it feels like from their side of the fence. It is not just the fans that know it.

“We understand the fans are disappointed, but we are disappointed as well. I came in [on Monday] morning and you can feel it from everyone.

“There is a disappointment about the club but we need to move on from it and we have got a big game coming up on Wednesday.

“It is going to be a big couple of games after that as well so hopefully we can get that momentum built again and go on a run.”