JOHNSTONE

ISAID before the Motherwell game last weekend that it was a big test for Barrie McKay. Whether the talk about a move was true or not, there were headlines about him and people were talking about him.

It was important that he forgot about that and just did what he is good at – and that is performing on the park.

I thought he had a terrific game. He worked hard, he took on his man and gave Richard Tait a really tough time.

He had a good game and that says to me that he can handle that kind of pressure when the spotlight is put on him.

Danny Wilson and Kenny Miller both said this week that Barrie could handle it and he has another chance to prove that at Fir Park this weekend.

His focus right now has to be Rangers and doing all he can to help Rangers get second place in the Premiership and go as far as possible in the Scottish Cup.

If he plays to the level that he is between now and the end of the season then there will be clubs looking at him in the summer. Then he will have something to think about.

Does he want to continue his progression at Ibrox or does he want to head to England or abroad?

The next few months are important for Barrie. He can’t afford to be in and out the team for the rest of the season. He needs consistency and he needs to keep improving.

It is all down to the player himself. If he is doing well, then clubs will be interested in him, it is as simple as that.

He has got 18 months left on his contract and he has got a decision to make.

He has been at Rangers for a few years now and it will depend what he wants.

Does he want to play for the club and help us challenge in the next couple of years or does he want to try his luck somewhere else?

If Rangers do all they can do to keep him and the player says ‘I have been here a long time and I want to try something new’ then there is nothing you can do. Rangers can’t just cash in at the first offer, though.

Every manager wants to keep his best players, but the bottom line is that players always dictate whether they stay or go.

He has a lengthy period left on his contract and if Rangers are going to keep him then they will want see him put pen to paper by the summer.

If Rangers keep him until next January, they will then get less money for him because he would be in the last six months of his contract and free to talk to other clubs.

I am sure the manager will have spoken to him. Barrie is a young lad, he is doing well right

If Barrie plays to the level he can clubs will be looking at him in the summer

now after a mixed start to the season and other clubs will be seeing how well he is performing for Rangers.

I think Mark is right when he said that Scottish players are undervalued in the transfer market. Clubs have come into Scotland and signed players for buttons for many years.

MThe manager would want to keep him because he is a good player, but if Barrie wants to go then I think we will let him go.

If he doesn’t sign a new contract before the end of the season and he lets it go into the last year then that leaves Rang-