SCOTT Wright has pledged to take advantage of Ryan Kent’s misfortune – by staking a claim for a regular start in the Rangers side in his team mate’s absence.

Kent hobbled off injured with a hamstring strain in the second-half of the Europa League defeat to Lyon at Ibrox on Thursday night.

The £7m signing was sent for an MRI scan yesterday and is expected to be sidelined for several weeks.

Wright, who came on for Steven Davis after an hour in the Group A match, is optimistic he will see his fellow forward back on the training ground soon.

However, the 24-year-old is hoping he is handed his first start since the Premier Sports Cup triumph over Dunfermline last month in the cinch Premiership encounter with Motherwell at home tomorrow.

And the former Aberdeen player will be doing everything he can to make it difficult for his manager Steven Gerrard to drop him if he is.

“I will always be like that whether Ryan is fit or unfit,” he said. “Unfortunately for him he has picked up a knock. Hopefully it is not going to be too bad.

“But I have always got to be like that, especially with the competition for places that we have got in this squad. If you don’t you’ll get left behind. It is always important to carry that.

“I always want to show the manager what I am capable of and what I can bring to the team. It will be different from the start. All I can do is try and show him what I can do if I get the chance.”

Wright, who joined Rangers in a £200,000 transfer back in January, has scored two goals in the 2021/22 campaign, against Livingston on the opening day of the league and Dunfermline in the cup.

However, the former Scotland Under-21 internationalist feels he can do better and will look to contribute more if he is given the nod to start the meeting with a Motherwell team that is on a three game winning run.

“It’s always something I think I can improve, my performances,” he said. “Being at a club like this we are always striving to find that next level and that’s something I want to do myself as well.

“If I’m starting or coming off the bench, I’ve been trying to give the manager something to think about and try and grab that shirt, whether that’s across the front three or the middle three.

“As I say, it’s just a case of giving the manager something to think about and hopefully putting me in the team.”

Rangers failed to capitalise on the scoring opportunities which they created in the 2-0 defeat to Lyon on Thursday night and Wright will attempt to be clinical in front of goal if he gets a run-out.

“At a club like this, you always want to take your chance when it’s given,” he said. “It’s a case of that ruthlessness in front of goal, that killer edge and putting away the chances we are creating.”

Despite not featuring as much as he would have liked this term – he has made just seven appearances and only three starts – Wright believes being at Rangers has still improved him as a player. 

“I would say so,” he said. “Obviously it was a different style of football we played at Aberdeen. It’s not just been the manager here, it’s been every single member of staff who have helped me.

“When I spoke to them prior to joining, it was going to be a big moment for me coming here. It was always something I wanted to do after I spoke to them. I’m loving every minute of it and it’s brilliant to get on the training pitch and just try to learn as much as I can off every member of staff.”