Rangers full-back James Maxwell has joined Ayr United on loan for the season as he looks to get regular first-team football under his belt – and hopes he can use his time with the Honest Men to push into contention for a spot in the first-team at Ibrox next season.
Maxwell spent last season with Queen of the South, catching the eye with a string of impressive performances for the Doonhamers, and started the season with the Rangers B team in the Lowland League.
With Barisic and Calvin Bassey ahead of him in the pecking order for a place in the side, Maxwell admits it isn’t an easy task trying to push the Croatian international left-back out of the team.
“I’ve been in and around the first-team at Rangers during the summer but the aim for me at this stage is to be playing games,” Maxwell told the Ayrshire Post.
“It’s not an easy job pushing a Croatian international – I’ve seen easier jobs in football – but obviously the main target is to challenge Borna long term.
“Hopefully I can come here and catch the eye.”
While Maxwell has a tough fight on his hands in the short-term, Barisic isn’t going to be at Ibrox forever.
The Croatian may well move on in the next year or two as he nears 30 and with no clear long-term succession in place, the jersey will be up for grabs.
A strong season at Ayr will do wonders for Maxwell and he’ll be hoping to follow the path of another Rangers loanee who went to Somerset Park recently in Stephen Kelly.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
