LEON KING has played at the highest level for Rangers after testing himself in the Champions League this term.
Now the defender wants to raise the bar for his country and become a full Scotland international in the coming seasons.
King made 19 appearances during the first half of the campaign as boss Giovanni van Bronckhorst pitched him in during a difficult few months at home and abroad.
Rangers failed to pick up a point from their Group A fixtures with Liverpool, Napoli and Ajax and the Champions League proved to be a tough learning curve for everyone at Ibrox.
King has yet to earn the chance to show Michael Beale what he can do in a competitive fixture following his appointment as Van Bronckhorst's successor in December.
But the stopper - who has been capped twice at Under-21 level - believes he can push on for club and country and become a stalwart at Ibrox and Hampden.
King said: “It’s got to be but that’s up to me to force the manager here to play me in these games coming up.
“I’ll only going to get a chance with the national team if I’m playing games here but I know it’s down to me make the manager take that decision.
“That (Champions League) is the level we want to be playing at with this football club. We’ve got to get back there as soon as we can.
“It was great for me to get that experience at such a young age. I hadn’t even really played many European games at youth level because we hadn’t reached the UEFA Youth League.
“So to get the chance to play in all six of those Champions League games was amazing for me and my family. I’ll always be able to look back on the fact I got to do that.
“Hopefully I can get back on the pitch and show I’m worthy of a call-up to the Scotland squad."
*The Rangers Youth Development Company have taken their investment in the academy at Auchenhowie to more than £10million. Profits from RYDC products such as Rangers Lotto, The Union Jackpot half-time draw, Stadium Bricks and Scratchcards is donated to the academy. For full details on RYDC visit www.rydc.co.uk or call 0141 427 4914.
