HE should really be the loan Ranger.

In his short career, Rob Kiernan has never had the chance to plan long-term, but now he has two years and the biggest opportunity of his life in front of him.

The defender has become accustomed to brief stays in the game as he has made a succession of temporary moves in a bid to catch the eye and earn experience in a first team environment. Ahead of him is another new chapter after he completed his move from Wigan to Rangers and followed Danny Wilson in signing up for a shot at the Championship title next season. He will hope his time in Scotland's second tier is short and sweet but he now has a chance to settle in, settle down and show what he is capable of under Mark Warburton.

The 24-year-old has been across the country and up and down the leagues whilst on the books of Watford and Wigan. It is a route that not all players would have chosen, but it is one that has shaped his career and got him to where he is today.

"It would be nice," Kiernan said as he reflected on the prospect of a rare period of stability in his career after agreeing a two-year deal with Rangers. "I've always been at a bigger club where I don't want to sit on the bench or play reserve football. I was constantly knocking on the manager's door asking this club wants to take me can I go there.

"Looking back on it I wouldn't change it because I've been up and down the country and learned different things from different managers, experienced different lifestyles and I think it's been good. I'd advise any young lad to go and play, even if you have to move up to Scotland when you're 17, just go and play."

The first place Kiernan went and played was close to the place where he will now call home on a permanent basis. He was still fresh-faced and part of the Watford youth structure when he made the move to Kilmarnock five years ago. It was to prove a useful experience, and gave Kiernan an early highlight that will live long in the memory.

"I'd a little loan spell there when I was younger although I probably wasn't ready if I'm being honest with you," he said of his time with Jimmy Calderwood's side. "Scott Severin and I came as part of a deal. They probably just wanted to kick me out of Watford as I was knocking on the door so often saying I wanted to go on loan and play.

"They were probably sick to death of me. I got a flat up here. It was good for me. I was comfortable playing at Under 21 level even when I was a bit younger than everyone else but when you come up here and are training against the likes of Kevin Kyle, you think 'wow - this is a big step'. I'm glad I did it even though I probably wasn't ready or good enough then.

"My debut was the night Robbie Keane made his for Celtic. We won apparently ...

"The manager asked if I'd played right-back before and I replied 'yes - lots of times.' I'd never played there before in my life. The next thing I knew I had (Marc Antoine) Fortune running right at me down the wing. So I'm thinking 'oh my God, I'd out of my depth here'. But we managed to hold on and get a win. It was a great night."

After spending the second half of last season on loan at Birmingham, Kiernan has now returned to Scotland well travelled and well versed in the methods of the man who he has been reunited with once again. Warburton became a father figure to the defender at Watford before taking him to Brentford three years ago and Kiernan is keen to repay the faith at Ibrox.

"Mark had me from when I was about 16, 17 years old," he said. "I was playing centre forward at the time and we went to the Milk Cup and played centre back. I've played there ever since so it's him that I owe so much.

"He looked after me when I was a kid - he helped developed me. He was one of those managers who I'd look back on and think 'yeah - they'd a big influence on me'. So when I heard about this opportunity it was a no brainer for me really."