GRAEME MURTY is confident striker Jamie Murphy has the ability and mentality to be a success at boyhood heroes Rangers.

The 28-year-old completed his move to Ibrox on Saturday evening before jetting out to America to join the Gers for the Florida Cup matches with Atletico Mineiro and Corinthians.

Murphy will spend the second half of the campaign on loan from Brighton but Rangers can then make the move permanent in the summer.

And boss Murty is pleased to have the former Motherwell star on board as he gets set to get down to business with the Light Blues.

Murty said: “He’s someone I have been aware of for a while, he’s someone I believed from the outset could improve what we have here.

“He knows what this football club is all about. He’s home-grown and understands what it means to go and play at Ibrox.

“He was Player of the Year for Brighton last year and there’s no doubt he has a steely-edge to him.

“Talking to people who I knew who have played alongside him didn’t have a bad word to say about him in terms of his quality and, of course, his character.

“I know what he’ll bring to the changing room as well as what he’ll bring on the pitch and I don’t think in this day and age you can understate the importance of that.

“It’s important we change the dynamics of our attack slightly, we need more pace and more aggression and I think Jamie will deliver that. He’s a dynamic player and that’s what I am looking for.”

Murphy has enjoyed considerable success south of the border since leaving Fir Park five years ago to join Sheffield United.

He was part of the Seagulls side that won promotion to the Premier League last term but has found game time harder to come by in recent weeks.

Now he has a chance to make an impression in the Premiership as he looks to help Rangers finish strongly this season.

Murty said: “We hope he’s going to be able to replicate the kind of form that made him a mainstay in the Brighton team last season, a player that was so vital in their successful push for promotion to the Premiership.

“He’s coming back to Scotland a man, he’s not a wee boy anymore. He’s a mature athlete, someone who knows himself and knows how to get the best out of himself.

“We believe he’s someone who can contribute from the get-go in terms of his attributes.

“Above all that, of course, he was desperate to come, he was desperate to sign for us.

“He’s a Rangers fan and as soon as he knew of our interest he wanted to be here.

“He’s someone who can broaden our attacking potential and help move the group towards where we want to be.”