THIS morning will have a familiar feel for Michael O’Halloran. Just as he has done every day for the last two years, the 25-year-old will travel to Perth as the sun rises, only this time knowing it has in fact already set on his spell at St Johnstone.

He will walk through the doors at McDiarmid Park and into the changing room he has become such an important figure in since he came back north from Bolton Wanderers, salvaging the boots that have helped kick his career up a gear and attract the attention of Rangers. There will be plenty of congratulations no doubt for the man who became the Ibrox club’s final season of the transfer window yesterday on deadline day.

The fact the forward arrived for his Rangers medical at their Murray Park training complex yesterday afternoon without his footwear says a lot to how quickly the closing stages of this deal moved, despite the protracted nature of the toing and froing over the last few weeks. As it happens, O’Halloran – who will go straight into Mark Warburton’s squad that travels to face Raith Rovers tonight – had at one point almost lost hope that his dream move would be done, and was preparing himself for another day’s training with Tommy Wright’s team before a night watching the ‘drama’ of Transfer Deadline Day unfold on television.

Now that his move has finally been completed, the man who has lit up the Ladbrokes Premiership is ready to spark the next chapter in his career at Rangers.

“I’m planning to go to St Johnstone to get my boots [this] morning. I can’t thank the manager and staff enough. I will take them in a wee something,” said O’Halloran.

“The last day of the window is always hectic. I was sitting this morning waiting for the call and happily it came through.

“I watch deadline day on Sky Sports every time it comes around and always think it is exciting stuff. But it’s not until you are part of the situation yourself that you realise how stressful it actually is and what the players involved go through. I know now! It’s not that easy.”

He added: “I’m absolutely delighted it has gone through. I first heard about it early in January, so I’m pleased I’ve finally got here. It always crosses your mind that it might not happen. But I just spoke to my representatives and I was always confident. They assured me it could still happen.”

It says a lot for O’Halloran’s talents that Rangers have pursued him so vigorously even though he only has four goals this campaign. Part of that may be down to the fact one of them came against them in an extraordinary performance at Ibrox. St Johnstone stunned Rangers 3-1 on League Cup duty back in September and it was O’Halloran’s direct running and quick feet that caused so many problems for the Championship club on the night.

Warburton admitted that he had pinpointed his new signing as the danger man on that night, but even O’Halloran was not aware of the positive impression he had made. “Not really,” he said. “We did well as a team that night. Everything fell into place. Rangers were flying at the time. I was really pleased with my own performance but I didn’t really think about it in terms of impressing Rangers.

“You hear stories linking you with the club, but that’s about it.”

To say O’Halloran’s heart has always belonged to Rangers would perhaps be overstepping the mark. Brought up a Celtic supporter, nurtured through the Parkhead club’s academy and still holding strong connections there with his dad Mick a Celtic coach, it can be said that his mind and loyalties now reside at Ibrox.

Sitting addressing the press within Rangers’ training complex at Murray Park, O’Halloran chuckles at the joke about what is old man thinks of his latest move, he is aware of the opportunity that has opened up on the back of a truly remarkable two years in Perth, and he believes he is now ready to grasp it.

“He is delighted for me,” said the former Scotland U21 cap. “He wants me to go on and play at the highest level possible. There will definitely be a wee bit of banter in the house now though!

“It will all be in good spirits. But my mum will definitely be supporting me. I’m a mummy’s boy!”

O’Halloran added: “For me, Rangers are going places. It is on the up. They are flying just now, doing really well in the Championship and the objective is to get promotion this season.

“A club like Rangers should be able to win trophies and get into Europe. That’s a factor in me coming here, it is a huge opportunity for me.”