IT was a night of firsts for Joe Dodoo on Friday. If all goes to plan, he will have many more moments to remember in the coming weeks and months.

The striker made his Rangers debut against East Stirlingshire and marked the occasion with a goal as he rounded off a comfortable 3-0 win for Mark Warburton’s side in the Betfred Cup. This evening, he could make his Ibrox bow when Rangers host Stranraer and look to clinch top spot in Group F.

Dodoo has made the move from Leicester City and is dreaming of Premiership and cup glory this term. He has followed eight fresh faces into Warburton’s squad this summer and is one of the reasons why optimism is high amongst supporters over what could be achieved this season.

The environment is new for Dodoo and his team-mates but the challenges that Rangers must overcome if they are to win the title are familiar. The first major hurdle arrives just weeks into the Premiership fixture schedule, and it is one the 21-year-old is already relishing.

"I didn't watch Rangers beating Celtic but I can't wait to play in the first Old Firm game on September 10,” he said. “It should be great. I really can't wait.

"I'll need to ask a few of the guys what the occasion was like to get a heads up or maybe go on YouTube. But I've watched Rangers v Celtic before. When I was a young I used to watch games like that on Sky Sports all the time. I remember thinking how crazy it looked. You could pick up on the tension between both sets of supporters and both sets of players.

“When the whistle goes, the tackles fly in and you feel the rivalry. I thought to myself 'this rivalry up in Scotland must be something else.' So it will be good for me to experience it as a Rangers player."

Before Warburton takes his players across the city to Parkhead, Rangers have home ties with Hamilton and Motherwell and trips to Dundee and Kilmarnock to negotiate. If the season is to end with the Premiership silverware in the Ibrox Trophy Room, then a quick start is surely a must.

Dodoo has only spent a few days with Warburton’s squad at Auchenhowie and had half an hour on the pitch with his new team-mates. His first impressions are positive, though.

"We have amazing quality,” he said. “At the back, in the middle, up the top we have the players who can achieve something great this season.

"Has the manager driven that message home that this can be a great season? Yes, every day we work to improve. Everyone is focused on achieving a big season.

"Can we match Celtic? Of course we can! Rangers is a big club.”

The acquisition of Dodoo last week saw Warburton complete another piece of the Ibrox jigsaw as he continues his preparations for the big kick-off. A run-out at Ochilview may not be a glitzy and glamorous debut, but it was a first chance for him to show supporters what he can bring to the Rangers forward line this term.

The England youth international turned down a new contract at the King Power Stadium in favour of a move to Ibrox and he has no doubt that it will prove to be the right decision, both this season and in the long run.

"None at all,” Dodoo said when asked if he had any hesitation about making a move to Ibrox. “Rangers is a big club, a huge club and I am happy to be here. It's always been a big club here and that will never change.

"Of course I have high hopes for my time at Rangers. We have a manager here who likes to develop young players. He is going to teach me all that I need to learn.

"Nothing can beat that. All players should be looking to learn at all times. So it's great for me to come here to Rangers and develop.”

Having watched on as Claudio Ranieri’s side became history makers and Premier League champions last term, few would have been surprised if Dodoo had decided to remain in the blue of Leicester rather than head to Ibrox. He remains inspired by the City story, though.

There was a temptation to stay and fight for his place, to attempt to somehow move ahead of the likes of Jamie Vardy in Ranieri’s ranks, but the realisation that Ibrox was the best place for him soon dawned on Dodoo.

"Was there a temptation to stay there given they have Champions League football? Yes of course there was,” he said. "But I need to be playing first team football. To be fair, the manager and the staff here have persuaded me that here is where I need to be. The players have made it really easy to settle in. To have a manager willing to teach me the right way of playing football, I couldn't say no to that!

"Yes of course, I learned a lot from these guys (at Leicester). These players have ability and they work hard and they have a great bond. They are all such great friends and that's what made it easy for them to achieve what they did. They fought for each other all season long. It was great to see how they acted about the place and to learn from them.

"But I didn't need to learn from anyone that hard work is essential if you want to succeed. I have always know that. I didn't need to be taught that.”

*Fans can pay at the gate at Ibrox for the Rangers v Stranraer game. (7.45pm kick off)

Tickets are £10 for adults & £5 for concessions and juniors.

To buy tickets in advance call the Rangers Ticket Hotline on 0871 702 1972, log on to rangers.co.uk or visit the Ticket Centre.