Foster eyes Scotland spot

Foster: Targeting Scotland breakthrough

Richard Foster hopes his loan move to Rangers can act as a springboard for his long-awaited breakthrough into the Scotland team.

The 25-year-old completed a season-long switch to the Scottish champions just hours before the transfer deadline, with striker Andrius Velicka making the reverse move to Aberdeen.

Foster represented his country at U21 level but has so far failed to earn a spot in the senior side, and is looking to catch the eye of national coach Craig Levein during his year at Ibrox.

Aim

"That is in the back of my mind," said Foster.

"I realise, if I get into the team and I cement a place and I'm playing every week for Rangers, then I feel that the national manager will maybe come and have a look.

"It's not one of my goals to start with. I need to break into the team to begin with but, if I do that, I can maybe think of other things."

Versatile Foster, who can play at left-back or in midfield, is also looking to make an impact on Gers manager Walter Smith before even thinking about making his switch a permanent one.

"That's not something I'm thinking about," he said. "I'm just here to play as many games as I can, to be involved in as many squads as I can.

"If I do well here, you never know what could happen.

"But I know at the end of the day I'm an Aberdeen player and, after my season-long loan, I could go back there if nothing else happens."

He added: "I'm under no illusions that I'm going to be coming straight into the team.

"I realise I'm here primarily as a squad player to start with but my aim is to show that I've got something different and hopefully break through into the team.

"I just hope that I do enough in training for the manager to give me a chance and, if I get a chance, hopefully I take it."

Aberdeen have suffered bad luck in cup competitions of late, and Foster is determined to return with some silverware if he does go back to Pittodrie at the end of the season.

Success

"You don't come to a club like Rangers without that being on your mind, especially after the success of last year," he said.

"It would be nice to get some medals. The boys here have experienced it already and hopefully they can do it again.

"It would be my first medal in Scotland if I did win anything here.

"The closest I've come was a semi-final with Aberdeen in the Scottish Cup, I've not played in a final.

"Of all the games that Aberdeen have lost to lower-league opposition, I think I've played in them all and it's not been a nice experience.

"Hopefully, coming here, I can get on the better end of the results."