THE challenge is as unfamiliar as the view of the action for Wes Foderingham. If his perspective is to change, his standards can’t alter.

Signed from Swindon Town in Mark Warburton’s first campaign at Ibrox, the keeper established himself as number one within weeks. For months, for years, his position was rarely threatened as he retained the jersey and the faith of Warburton, then Pedro Caixinha and Graeme Murty.

The arrival of Steven Gerrard, and that of Allan McGregor, has switched Foderingham’s circumstances, however. Come matchday, he finds himself on the bench rather than between the sticks.

A start in the Betfred Cup win over Kilmarnock is his only competitive appearance to date this season but the same competition will provide him with another outing as Rangers host Ayr United this evening.

The task of displacing McGregor as first choice is an unenviable one for Foderingham. That won’t stop him from trying, however, as he bids to regain the gloves this term.

“Obviously I have found myself out of the side so when I get an opportunity to play I welcome that,” he said.

“Sometimes in my position it is easy to let your head drop and maybe not give 100 per cent but that is not in my character.

“I got the nod to play in that game [against Kilmarnock], put in 100 per cent and was able to put in a good performance. Hopefully I will do the same.

“The rhythm is difficult when you don’t play for a long period of time but I will train hard every day and do more on my days off as well.

“When you are not playing, you get a chance to do a little bit extra so I am feeling good and fresh and I am looking forward to it.”

When Gerrard set about overhauling the squad that he inherited at Ibrox, few would have pinpointed goalkeeper as one of the priority positions that needed addressing this summer.

The return of McGregor has proven to be a sterling bit of business for Rangers, however, and the 36-year-old has rolled back the years in his second spell in Light Blue.

It has forced Foderingham onto the bench and Jak Alnwick out the door after he moved on loan to Scunthorpe United in search of first team football.

McGregor is now a rival and the man that Foderingham must somehow overcome but he is an inspiration and role model for the Englishman as well.

“My first thought was to stay and fight,” Foderingham said. “There were three goalkeepers here and Jak has gone out on loan.

“Someone had to go out and it is me and Greegsy here now. He is playing well and has got the shirt so my job is to train hard and when I get the opportunity to play to give a good account of myself.

“It is good to see that he is playing well and that means that the team is playing well and we are winning football matches.

“That just means that I need to try harder in training and when I get the opportunity to play, make sure that I play well. It drives the whole standards up across the goalkeeping department.

“Of course he has got fantastic experience and the first time he was here he was a top goalkeeper. He is showing that he is still a top goalkeeper.

“Of course I can learn from him and having a top goalkeeper in front of me is going to drive my standards up as well.”

The summer rebuild that saw McGregor and 14 other players join Gerrard’s squad has yielded impressive results so far this term.

A place in the Europa League group stages, and draw with Villarreal, has been earned, while only Hearts are above Rangers in the Premiership standings.

After two lamentable seasons in the top flight, there is a different feel around Ibrox these days as those on and off the field target success once again.

Foderingham said: “I think the first thing when the new coaching staff came in was that they wanted to change the mentality of the group and make sure that the group had a winning mentality and a willingness to work hard and improve.

“I think that has been evident on the pitch and the squad has got stronger. We have a couple of boys in each position now that are capable of coming in and doing a good job and that can only help the club as a whole.

“There have been improvements made around the place and the boys want to come in and work.

“I wouldn’t say [that the mentality hasn’t been there]. There has been a long of change and different managers coming in as well.

“Sometimes it can be hard to settle but hopefully now we have got a squad that is settled, a management team that is settled and that can help us push forward.”

After a week that saw them collect six points in the Premiership and one in Spain, Rangers will shift their attentions to knock-out action once again this evening.

Victory over Ayr would take Gerrard to Hampden for the first time as a manager and leave his side 90 minutes away from a shot at the League Cup silverware.

Rangers were humbled by Celtic at the National Stadium last term but there is a determination to change their fortunes on the big stage and pick up a different kind of medal this season.

Foderingham said: “It is massive, it is massive. Obviously the last time there was disappointing and if we do get through this game hopefully we can go and give a good account of ourselves.

“Ultimately we want to be winning trophies. This club needs to be winning trophies and the boys have a winning mentality. Hopefully we can do that.”