Ross McCausland admits Rangers journey doubts but insists Serie A suitors had no chance of tempting him

The Northern Ireland international was linked with clubs in Italy before penning a new four-year deal at Ibrox.

Ross McCausland is back in the Rangers reckoning thanks to a helping hand from Steven Davis.

Now the young Ibrox prospect admits he’d love nothing more than to follow the Light Blues legend’s footsteps as he seeks to make his own mark for both club and country. Gio van Bronckhorst may have been the man who gave the 20-year-old his debut at Tynecastle just days before the Dutchman and his team jetted off for Seville.

But it was one of the stars of that Europa League run less than 18 months on who has been responsible for McCausland ’s real breakthrough. Davis could have turned to more seasoned campaigners as he took charge of the team in Cyprus last month for the clash with Aris Limassol but instead went with his compatriot as he shook things up in the second half. The former Ibrox captain - a legend in the eyes of both the Gers and Nothern Ireland faithfuls, not to mention Britain’s most capped international - then opted for the former Linfield kid as he wrapped up his brief stint as caretaker gaffer against St Mirren.

It was a major show of faith as he trusted the fresh-faced winger ahead of big money summer recruits Sam Lammers and Cyriel Dessers when Zak Lovelace limped off. But once given that opportunity, McCausland hasn’t let down either Davis or the man who’s since come in as Gers new permanent boss, Philippe Clement, putting in a string of impressive performances that have since earned him a Northern Ireland debut.

It’s only a start but the boyhood Bluenose would love nothing more than to carve out the same kind of career role model Davis managed over his two spells at Ibrox. “He’s a good person to have to look up to,” said McCausland. “ Steven Davis is so well liked around the club. Everybody knows that.

“So to have him taking on the interim role on was amazing and I was grateful for getting minutes against St Mirren and Limassol as well. I definitely have a bond with him. We pretty much have the same things in common so to be able to reach out to him is good.

“When I was coming on in the St Mirren and Limassol games he just said to me: ‘Keep doing what you are doing in training’. Obviously I did that and getting those chances was really good.

“I’d definitely like to emulate what he’s done at the club. I think if you look at the silverware he has and the caps he has for Northern Ireland that’s one of my goals.

“Davo was part of the team that made it to the Europa League final. It was an inspiration to me. I was at the majority of the games on that run and I was in Seville as well. Obviously if we were to do that this year, which I think we have a strong chance of doing, that would be amazing to be part of.”

Clement has shown similar levels of faith in the youngster as Davis - but McCausland admits he was worried the former Genk, Club Brugge and Monaco gaffer would have other ideas.

He said: “I was on international duty when the new manager first came in. So coming into training a few days later I had to adjust to different training sessions, stuff like that. But he’s been really good with me from day one. He’s given me good feedback.

“When the breakthrough under Davo happened it was a bit frustrating that the international break came so quickly because I was just starting. So there was a wee bit of doubt of doubt coming back that I would still be on that same kind of journey.

“But when I got back in and I was training I knew I had to keep doing what I was doing and show him why I should be in the team. That backing from the manager has done wonders for my confidence. Every day the confidence is just getting higher and higher. I think playing with top players every day is only going to make me better.”

McCausland had a special night in Limassol as he broke back into the Rangers first-team picture. But events at the Alphamega Stadium were a lot bleaker for the rest of the squad as a side who’d hit rock bottom following the sacking of Michael Beale were turned over by the Mediterranean minnows.

But just two months on from that shock 2-1 upset, Clement’s side can now book their place in the knock-out play-off round with a revenge victory over Aris tonight. And for McCausland, that would round off a perfect week that started with the signing of a new deal tying him to Ibrox until the summer of 2027.

“It’s been a dream come true,” he said. “I know I keep saying that but it has been a part of my dreams from a young age. To get this over the line is just amazing.

“It was a pretty easy decision. My decision to join the club at the age of 16 was also an easy decision because I was in different clubs as well.

“But the minute I walked in the door and the people around me, I just loved my time at Rangers. There was talk of other clubs but that wasn’t something that I had on my mind.

“I just wanted to focus on doing what I was doing and then the national call-up came up. So it wasn’t on my mind, to be honest. I was just focusing on Rangers.

“It’s plain to see [I only wanted to play here]. I’ve had tunnel vision towards Rangers, to be honest. I’d like to stay here for a long time.”