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FRASER AIRD has set his sights on becoming a Canada mainstay as he looks to make his international debut.

The Rangers winger, who represented Scotland at youth level, turned down a call-up to the Canada squad for the Gold Cup in 2013 to take his time deciding which country he wanted to represent at senior level.

But the 20-year-old has now declared for the country of his birth and is hoping to make his debut against Ghana later this week.

Speaking to sportsnet.ca, he said: “I’m 20 now, and I guess you could say I’m a young boy, but as you know football is such a short career, and I really didn’t want to waste any more time.

"I wanted to make my decision and focus on that one decision, so I wasn’t jumping back and forth between the two.

"I just thought if I made my decision that hopefully I could get a call up and become a Canadian international as soon as possible, and then continue that and have a good career with Canada.

(Image: SNS Group)

"I was born in Canada, and I’m Canadian. I grew up for 16 years of my life in Canada. I have Scottish parents and Scottish grandparents, but they decided to move to Canada and have been living there for 20 years, so they’re Canadian, too.

"I did have that choice to play for Scotland and it was tough, but I just thought that maybe I had a better chance to play for Canada – making more appearances and getting into the first team quicker. Hopefully this is my foot in the door, and I can establish myself and do well enough for Canada that I can contribute for years to come.”

Aird hasn't appeared much for Rangers this season but admitted that Mark Warburton and former Ibrox boss Ally McCoist both played a part in him declaring for Canada.

He added: "Mark only recently came to Rangers but I had conversations with my former manager Ally McCoist last year and he was actually keen on me to play for Canada if that was my decision.

"He played for Scotland so obviously his loyalty was to them, but he told me whatever decision I made would be my choice and he’d support me in whatever I would do. He was happy for me to play for Canada.

"He was supportive and Mark was supportive this year with me going away with Canada. He knows that it’s a good experience for me and that it can only make me better as a player at club level."