Rangers midfielder Connor Barron is determined to achieve a perfect end to the season by securing the Scottish Premiership title and earning a place in Steve Clarke's Scotland squad for the World Cup. Barron, 23, played a significant role in the early weeks of Danny Röhl's tenure as Rangers head coach but was sidelined for over two months due to a knee injury. Prior to his injury, he received consecutive late call-ups to the national team in October and November, contributing to Scotland's historic World Cup qualification.
Since his return in mid-March, Barron has made appearances as a substitute, with January signing Tochi Chukwuani preferred as the midfield partner of Belgium international Nico Raskin. However, Barron remains committed to playing a crucial part in the title race and catching Clarke's attention before the World Cup. The competition for a spot in the Scotland squad is intense, particularly in central midfield, where the likes of Scott McTominay, Billy Gilmour, and Lewis Ferguson are likely to be selected.
Barron faces stiff competition from other midfielders, including Andy Irving, Josh Mulligan, Elliot Watt, Marc Leonard, Luke McCowan, and David Watson. When asked about his potential contribution to the national team, Barron stated, 'I think I could bring my energy, composure on the ball, and tenacity off it.' He expressed his desire to represent Scotland again, saying, 'It would mean everything to me. My debut was a moment I'll never forget.' Barron emphasized the importance of performing well and earning a spot in the World Cup squad, saying, 'The opportunity to get to a World Cup was great, and it's been a target ever since then to get into the squad in the summer.' He reflected on Scotland's qualification, saying, 'It was great, the night was great. You couldn't really have written it with the goals that happened.' Rangers recently secured a 6-3 win over Falkirk, demonstrating their mental strength in the title race.
Barron believes the team has the correct attitude to cope with the demands of the three-way title scrap, saying, 'We've got a really strong group, we've come through a lot this season, and we're in a great position at the moment.' He expressed his hunger to win the league, saying, 'It's one you want to be involved in, and it's one that makes you hungry to go out there and perform and hopefully come away with a winner's medal around your neck.' Barron is eager for more first-team opportunities in the run-in, stating, 'I'm just hungry for more. I'm ready and just need to keep going, showing what I can do and keeping my standards high every day to get myself back into the team.'