City will swarm Swedes
But he says a stint in the serenity of the Scottish Highlands is providing him with a whole different challenge.
The 22-year-old winger is on loan at Inverness from Hearts and is excelling under gaffer Richie Foran.
King was threatening to carve out a career as an impact sub, as opposed to a reliable starter.
But that’s all changed at Caley Thistle. Foran is getting the best out of him by giving him the run of games he never got in Gorgie or in Govan last season.
King did a job for Rangers during his short loan spell that culminated in their Championship title success.
But af ter feel ing a weight of expectation on his shoulders at both of those clubs, his shackles have been taken off. And the Edinburgh-born kid is relishing a new lease of life.
King said: “I like the fact that I’m out the way up here. You can just get on with trying to improve your game.
“You never get any hassle, there’s not a lot of press. It’s a small town and everyone gets on with each other.
“That’s no more evident than in the dressing room. We’re left to get on with it. There’s not a lot of pressure up here.
“When I’ve been at Hearts and Rangers it’s been the opposite. There’s lots of pressure and expectation from the fans because they’re big city clubs.
“But here you have to put the pressure on yourself to perform, which is a different challenge. I’m enjoying the experience so far. I think it will really benefit myself and my career.”
At times King was backed by both Robbie Neilson and Mark Warburton to go and change games. In his Rangers debut, he came off the bench against Falkirk to score an injury-time winner.
But too often the former Scotland Under-21 player was left out of the starting line-up. Yet so far for Inverness, Foran has given him the nod for all their Premiership games – except against the Jambos because he was ineligible. So it’s no wonder King wants to repay the Irishman’s faith in him.
He said: “The main thing I’ve always wanted to do is play games. It’s a top league this season and I’ve played in every game I’ve been available for.
“That’s why I came up here. I’ve done reasonably well but I know I can do more. I still haven’t hit my best form yet.
“But I’m still adapting. I’m learning about how other boys play and as a team we haven’t quite clicked yet. When we do, I’m sure everything will fall into place and we’ll be a really strong side.
“We had a poor start but we’ve picked up a few good results since. We’re now five games unbeaten so everything is going well. It feels great to know the manager has belief in me. It’s probably a bit different to what I’m used to.
“But the gaffer enquired about me a few times when I was at Hearts. I wanted to go to a club where the manager really wanted me because I knew he’d play me and give me a chance.”
King enjoyed his time at Rangers last season as he gave Warburton’s team an injection of pace and unpredictability they lacked in the final third.
And he is convinced the Ibrox men, who come to the Caledonian Stadium for Friday night’s live TV clash, will come good in the top flight after a ropey start.
But he is still adamant that Foran’s side can halt their progress. King said: “We’ll go into the Rangers game in good form and feeling we can take something off them. At home we can beat anyone if we play well.
“Rangers are a really good passing side so it’ll be another tough test for us. But against Celtic in the second half we were under the cosh and hung in there.
“Rangers haven’t enjoyed the best of starts but it was the same story for us. I’m sure once everything clicks for them they’ll do very well in the Premiership.
“I’ve worked with Mark at Rangers and I know a lot of they boys. They have some excellent players and he’s made some good signings this year.
“But I’m not thinking about Rangers. All I want to focus on is doing well for Inverness and making sure we do ourselves justice on Friday night.” Scott Booth vows that Glasgow City will get more adventurous to overcome Eskilstuna United.
City take on the Swedes at the Excelsior on Thursday, trailing 1- 0 in the last- 32 Champions League clash.
Mimmi Larsson’s goal earned Eskilstuna the win in last week’s first-leg clash but Booth warns City will now go for the throat.
He said: “It is still in the balance but we played a more defensive style there and need to be a bit more adventurous here.
“We still have a chance. We worked hard and created chances, in the second half in particular, and we know we have to create more.”
The Scottish champs face relegated Forfar today and with just two league games left the title is in sight.
Second-placed Hibs, who take on Celtic today, head to Munich for Wednesday’s clash with Bayern af ter losing 6- 0 at Easter Road.
Boss Chris Roberts said: “The girls are not downhearted. We were always real ist ic about facing Bayern. They can be proud of their performance.”
Hibs welcome David Haley’s third-placed Hoops to Albyn Park today hoping to close the five-point gap on leaders City. Roberts said: “We’ve guaranteed second place in the league but we want to maintain pressure on Glasgow.”