JOHN Lundstram spoke to the various media outlets ahead of Rangers' Scottish Cup clash with Stirling Albion.

Here is everything he had to say.

How did you feel moving into the team against Aberdeen?

Aberdeen gave us exactly what we expected. We knew going to Pittodrie would be a massively difficult game.

They even showed that at Ibrox to be fair, they pressed us high and were good in possession.

They did the same on Tuesday and it was a difficult night for us.

I don’t think we performed as well as we can but sometimes you have to give credit to the opposition.

As for competition for places, it’s always the same, it’s always been there and it’s the same now.

Are you looking forward to a different challenge on Friday night?

We’ve prepared for the game on Friday as we would prepare for any game.

We’ll prepare for this one as we’ll prepare for the Dortmund game.

I’ve been in a position to what Stirling are in.

When I was at Oxford we had Premier League teams in the FA Cup and knocked them out. We know how important it will be for them to come to Ibrox, it’s a massive occasion for them.

I know if I was in their shoes I’d be raring to go. We’ve got to match that, definitely.

You haven’t had many minutes, what challenges does that present itself?

Everyone is different, everyone deals with it in their own way. My way is to stay positive and keep working hard, I’ve got to.

That’s the only way you go about it in my opinion, you have to stay focused and keep positive.

You keep trying to impress the manager in training and when you get a chance.

In the next couple of weeks, the squad will be stretched, is this an opportunity to make the shirt your own?

There are a few of us who will want to do that in the coming weeks.

The lads have been winning so it’s been difficult for the manager to change things up but definitely there’s now a chance for the lads who have been around it to come in and impress.

What were your memories from your giant killings at Oxford and what do you take from that to prevent that happening with Rangers?

I had really good times there. We knocked out Swansea the first year and then Newcastle the year after.

So I know exactly how the lads at Stirling Albion will be feeling.

They can’t wait to get here, I’d imagine, so it’s going to be a tough game. We’re at home and we’ve got to be the ones who go implement what we want to do. I’m sure if we have the right attitude and the right mentality we can win the game but you’ve got to implement that and it will be a difficult game for us if we don’t.

How important is it you bring cup success to Rangers?

Definitely. I know it still hurts me that we got knocked out of that semi-final against Hibs. It really frustrated me for a while, that one so going forward the cups has got to be a priority along with the league.

When you’re at a club like Rangers you’re expected to go all the way in them all.

We all know that and that’s what we want to do.

How difficult has it been to make an impression when you’re only getting outings here and there?

It is difficult to just come in and be expected to set the world alight when you haven’t had a run.

I think for any player to build up some form, you need to have a run of games.

I’m no different but obviously, when the opportunity does come for yourself you have got to take it and impress.

I definitely just want to impress and try and get a run in the team.

James Sands has arrived recently, what’s he been like as a teammate to train with?

He’s been good yeah. He’s been top class. He’s very combative, a good passer. He’s a nice lad as well, so I’m sure he’ll fit in fine. Again, he just adds strength to the squad.

Does Aberdeen serve as a warning that the levels need to remain continuously high given the gap at the top of the table?

Definitely, it was disappointing not to get the win but I think the way the game panned out, we weren’t at the races, so I think, in the end, it turned out to be a not-bad point in the end really.

Of course, you go into every game wanting to win. That’s what the Rangers mentality is.

In the end, with the way the game panned out, it turned into a good point for us - as long as we go into the next games and get results.

Going forward, we’ve got to get another winning run going now after dropping a couple the other night.