Barrie McKay stays focused on helping Rangers land Premiership place after Scotland squad snub

How the 21-year-old winger, who has been named in the Scotland Under-21 squad for their European Championship qualifiers with France and Northern Ireland later this month, could be overlooked mystified many.

Especially when James Forrest, who has hardly feature never mind impressed with Celtic in the 2015/16 campaign, has once again been called up.

However, the lack of acknowledgement from Gordon Strachan, or from anyone else for that matter, is unconcerning for an unassuming lad who is, after taking so long to break in to the first team at Rangers, keeping the success he is currently enjoying in perspective.

“I don’t get recognised that much more now,” he said. “I’ll go out with some of the boys and they’ll get recognised more often, then some people will come back up and say ‘I’m sorry, I didn’t see you there’. That doesn’t bother me. I prefer to live a quiet life, away from the spotlight.

“It’s good that people are talking about Scotland but my focus is on doing well for Rangers, to make sure they get back in the top league. If anything comes of that with Scotland I’d be delighted. I’m not focusing on that. If it comes it comes.

“The way my career’s gone I know not to take anything for granted. I was released by Kilmarnock and came here. Then I broke through, then I was out on loan. It’s been up and down. It’s good now to have that bit of stability so I just need to make sure that I keep performing. If I’m not then it’s difficult to get yourself back in the team if you’re out.”

McKay, though, admits he was surprised that Lee Wallace, the Ibrox captain, was left out of both of the Scotland squads given how integral the left back has been to how well Rangers have acquitted themselves this term.

“The way Lee has played this year, you couldn’t say he didn’t deserve it,” he said. “He’s been doing it consistently every game and he really leads by example. He was in the squad when he was in the top-flight and he hasn’t changed as a player since.

“You could argue the opposition aren’t as good but the lower-league teams can beat the Premiership teams. It’s an argument you’ll never win because there are two sides to it.”

McKay, who has spent beneficial loan spells at both Raith Rovers and Morton in the last couple of seasons, has certainly been noticed by rival clubs in the Championship in recent months. Many have made marking the midfielder a priority.

He feels the attention he has received at Rangers has aided his development as a player and stresses it hasn’t deterred him from playing his natural game and attempting to beat players and create chances.

“You could say that teams are looking at me more,” he said. “It all comes down to how I play and how I approach the game. I am noticing that teams are doubling and tripling up on me, but that just creates space elsewhere and we need to exploit that.

“I take it as a compliment if they see me as a player who can hurt them. They’re trying to keep me out of the game, but I have to make sure I keep moving and get on the ball. Even if I have players on me, I still have to be confident enough to take the ball and try to do something with it.”

Having not been involved in an Old Firm game in the past, McKay was delighted when Rangers were drawn to play Celtic in the Scottish Cup semi-final eight days ago and is looking forward to the meeting at Hampden next month greatly.

Still, he is aware that securing a place alongside the Parkhead club in the Premiership is more important than the outcome in a single game, even the Glasgow derby match, and is determined to focus on the league games his side have coming up starting with Falkirk away on Friday night.

“Obviously all my family and friends want to talk about it,” he said. “It’s good to get the Old Firm game back in Scottish football. If you’re a neutral, a Rangers fan or a Celtic fan, you’re buzzing to have the game back. But, as I said, we need to get back up so there will be more of those games next season.”