Ricky Foster heads to Ibrox on loan as Aberdeen sign Andrius Velicka

Published on Tuesday 31 August 2010 22:31

RANGERS last night completed the surprise signing of Ricky Foster from Aberdeen on a season-long loan while Andrius Velicka moved to Pittodrie from the Scottish champions in a similar deal.

Foster, who can operate as a full-back or winger, is one of Aberdeen's longest serving players but has been out of favour this season with just one brief substitute appearance so far.

The 25-year-old now has an unexpected opportunity to play Champions League football as he joins the Rangers squad which will be registered with Uefa today for the forthcoming campaign against Manchester United, Valencia and Bursaspor.

Foster, who signed a new contract at Aberdeen earlier this year which runs until 2013, last night admitted the sudden turn of events had taken him aback.

"It has all happened very quickly," said Foster. "I was surprised the way things have gone and I'm very excited about it.

"The Champions League is the biggest stage of all and to have a chance of playing there is terrific.

"You look at the teams in the group and it's going to be brilliant. I have never been to a Champions League match at Ibrox but having watched on TV, you can see that the atmosphere is incredible so it's something I would love to be involved in.

"I hadn't even looked at the draw when Rangers Champions League group came out last week but obviously the possibility that I could now be involved against the likes of Manchester United and Valencia would be amazing.

"They are massive games but luckily I have had a wee taste of that when Aberdeen played Bayern Munich, Atletico Madrid and Panathanaikos in the Europa League a couple of years ago.

"This is a really good opportunity for me. I am under no illusions that I am going to walk into the team but I will work really hard to try and get there. If I do, it will be a great personal achievement. I have to hit the ground running and show what I can do in training and try to get into the manager's plans. Hopefully my pace can be an asset in either of the full-back positions or further forward. I realise I am a squad player but I hope to do what I can to show that I can play for Rangers."

Foster is contracted to return to Aberdeen next season, a situation which will arise if he is not offered terms by Rangers at the end of his loan. "I don't want to look too far ahead at this stage because I have to get used to the different aspects and demands you get playing for Rangers," said Foster.

"The bottom line is that I want to do well and whether that gets me a permanent move there or whether I come back for the last two years of my contract at Aberdeen then time will tell.

"I just want to go there and play as many games as I can as well as I can and if I sign for Rangers then great but if I come back to Aberdeen then I want to return a better player."

While Foster brings some versatile cover to Walter Smith's squad, the Rangers manager has deemed 31-year-old Lithuanian striker Velicka surplus to requirements following the recent recruitment of James Beattie and Nikica Jelavic.

Meanwhile, Dundee United last night announced the signing of former Aberdeen skipper Scott Severin on a two-year contract. Severin failed to settle at Watford after moving last summer and spent the last three months of an injury-interrupted campaign on loan at Kilmarnock. The 31-year-old, who can play in midfield or central defence, made just 11 appearances for the Hornets and leaves Vicarage Road on a free transfer.

The move will see the player re-united with Peter Houston, whom he worked with at Hearts. There was further good news for United fans as their club resisted further advances from Middlesbrough for winger Craig Conway. Gordon Strachan had bid 600,000 for the Scotland cap a few weeks ago, and the Teesside club contacted United on Monday to inform them that the offer remained on the table. The Tannadice club, however, weren't for budging.

Three players who did leave the Tayside club were Damian Casalinuovo, who joined Hamilton Accies on a two-year deal at 11pm, and fellow strikers Francisco Sandaza and Jeno Myrie-Williams, who were released after also being deemed surplus to requirements by Houston.