Jason Holt looks forward to increased competition at Rangers

Jason Holt insists he is not fazed by the influx of midfield competition at Rangers this summer.

Jason Holt, pictured in action against Liam Henderson of Hibs in the Scottish Cup final, scored 12 goals for Rangers last season. Picture: Neil Hanna

The 23-year-old faces a fight to keep hold of the slot he made his own last term, with five of Mark Warburton’s new recruits playing in the middle of the park.

Holt fulfilled a crucial role for the Ibrox club as they clinched the Ladbrokes Championship title and battled through to the final of the William Hill Scottish Cup, featuring in 45 matches and scoring 12 goals.

But the arrival of Joey Barton, Niko Kranjcar, Jordan Rossiter, Josh Windass and Matt Crooks means Holt’s role next term is far from secure.

However, the former Hearts man is refusing to worry about his prospects ahead of the new season and instead believes the recent arrivals can help him become an even better player.

Holt told the club’s official website: “I think it’s great that we’ve signed players like Matt Crooks and Joey Barton, for our squad I think competition is a great thing.

“I’m the same as the rest of the boys and we’re all really looking forward to it and it’s really healthy to have that competition.

“I think that the calibre of the players who have come in and with guys like Jordan who has had experience at a club like Liverpool, I’m sure that I’m going to learn a lot of things.

“I’ll take as much as I can from everyone and try to incorporate it into my own game and try to learn as much as I can from those players.”

Holt is part of the 23-man Rangers squad which has flown to North Carolina in America for a training camp.

Rossiter has missed the trip after being called up to the England Under-19s squad for the European Championships in Germany, while Barton will officially complete his move to Rangers on 1 July before meeting his new team-mates after they return from the US.

But Holt is already excited about the arrival of the former Manchester City and Newcastle player.

“It’ll be great to play alongside a player like Joey Barton and I’m sure that he will be a great signing for the club,” he said.

“I’m sure that he will have a really positive impact at the club, in at the training ground and on the field. I’m really looking forward to him joining and working with him.”

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