I'm a rising Rangers star training with the first team at last - here's how I'm planning to become the NEXT Allan McGregor

Lewis Budinauckas was thrown in at the deep end after making his international debut in the crunch Scotland Under-21s clash with Belgium.

And he’s hoping taking advice from fellow Rangers shotstoppers Jack Butland and Allan McGregor can help his career kick on. Budinauckas had never played at any level for Scotland and was only told hours before the Tynecastle showdown he’d in goal, with regular No1 Cieran Slicker injured. The Ibrox keeper could do nothing as two late goals from Saint Etienne striker Lucas Stassin meant the young Scots went down a gut-wrenching defeat to Belgium, when even a draw would have put them in pole position to qualify for the play-offs as runners-up.

Scotland now require to win in Almaty tomorrow and become the first-ever Scottish team to win in Kazakhstan – with Celtic twice, Aberdeen, Scotland and Scotland U-21s all trying and failing to win in the former Soviet state in recent times – and need Hungary to win in Belgium to claim second place.

However, they suffered a pre-match blow with Gers star Connon Barron not travelling to Kazakhstan as a precaution after a slight knock. They’ll also be without Ibrox teammate Leon King as well as Kilmarnock striker Bobby Wales and Rugby Park colleague David Watson, as well as former Manchester City midfielder Lewis Fiorini, who all withdrew.

And 22-year-old Budinauckas – who just signed a new contract at Rangers in the summer – enjoyed his first taste of international football as he said: “I only found out before the game I was playing. With Cieran not in the squad I was hoping to get a chance. It was my first ever game at any level for Scotland. We defended very well for large parts of the game but at this level, it’s small details.

“Belgium are a top