McKay's Swans delight

Barrie McKay has set his sights on the Premier League after joining Swansea City.

The former Rangers star has signed a three-year deal at the Liberty after the Swans paid Nottingham Forest an undisclosed fee to secure his services.

And McKay is delighted to be starting a new chapter of his career in South Wales.

“It’s great to be here. It is a new project for me and I am really looking forward to it,” he said.

“Swansea is a massive club. It was obviously a disappointment for them to be relegated and I want to help the club get back to where they should be.

“The Championship is a hard league – anyone can beat anyone – but there is no reason why we cannot do well.”

McKay played 137 games for Rangers after coming through the youth ranks at Ibrox.

He joined Forest last summer, following ex-Rangers boss Mark Warburton to the City Ground, and initially thrived in the English game.

But McKay’s first-team chances dried up after Warburton was replaced by Aitor Karanka, and the Swans snapped up the chance to bring the Scot to SA1.

“Coming here gives me a different opportunity and a chance to play,” McKay added.

“I have watched a lot of clips of Swansea – I have done my research. I’ve met the manager and spoken to him.

“He gives a lot of confidence to his players and the way he wants to play suits my game.

“I will be aiming to play as many games as I can and assist with as many goals as I can.”

McKay, who can play anywhere behind a centre-forward, has scored goals throughout his career.

He netted five times in 28 Forest appearances, and was on the scoresheet 17 times during his time at Ibrox.

Perhaps his most memorable goal yet was a long-range effort in a Scottish Cup semi-final clash with Celtic which Rangers, who were then in the second tier, eventually won on penalties.

“Being at Rangers was a great experience for me,” McKay said.

“I was a young lad aged 17 when I first got into the team and I played a lot of games.

“Unfortunately I got injured and then went out on loan before getting back into the team.

“The football we played at Rangers created a good feeling and it took the club forward and got us back into the Scottish Premiership.

“The goal I scored in the cup against Celtic is probably the best I have scored in my career and I hope to get a few more like that.”