Ross McCausland can handle Rangers scrutiny as Ibrox star reveals he dished it out as a young fan

Ross McCausland doesn’t mind the searing heat of Rangers criticism as he was once a kid dishing out the fire himself.

The Ibrox star is hoping to extend his 100 per cent Hampden winning record in Saturday’s Scottish Cup Final showpiece against Celtic. McCausland’s outing will bring an end to a tumultuous first full season as a top-team star and it’s been a contrast of emotions. First dipped into the side this term by interim Steven Davis, the appointment of Philippe Clement to the hotseat fully opened a door which the kid surged through and his initial period was both magical and, in his words, mad.

A Viaplay Cup winners medal after starting against Aberdeen, a Euro goal against Aris Limassol and sparkling display against Real Betis in Spain and a full debut for Northern Ireland crammed in before Christmas. However, it’s not been just as shiny for McCausland since the turn of the year with the Premiership trophy slipping out of Rangers’ grasp and criticism coming the way of the squad from both pundits and fans as dreams of the title were crushed. The attacker has been within a squad lauded and then lambasted, but he’s big enough to handle it. McCausland understands the flak can fly and smiles as he admits he might well have been doing it himself as a young fan.

He admits maturely: “With football, criticism is going to come. When I was a young fan myself, I was probably giving some of the players criticism as well! I think it’s normal. If you can’t take it in this day and age, it’s probably not for you.

“It’s only normal. Sometimes you won’t have the greatest of games. You just need to pick yourself up and go again. You try not to dwell on it. It’s all to do with your mindset and how you approach things.

“I don’t really