FORMER Rangers winger Barrie McKay insists joining Swansea City can be his ticket to the English Premier League.

The 23-year-old has penned a three-year deal at the Liberty Stadium after a six-figure fee was struck with Nottingham Forest.

McKay departs the City Ground after just one roller-coaster campaign, scoring five goals in 28 outings before falling out of the first-team picture completely when Mark Warburton was replaced by Aitor Karanka.

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However, the Scotland cap is ready to make his mark in South Wales and help Swansea return to the top-flight at the first time of asking.

“Swansea is a massive club,” said McKay. “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.”

Prior to his switch south, McKay made 137 outings for Rangers between 2012 and 2017, coming to particular prominence during the reign of Warburton.

And, citing his 30-yard screamer against Celtic in the 2016 Scottish Cup semi-final - which the Ibrox men ultimately won on penalties - as the finest moment in his career to date, McKay is out to replicate that Old Firm magic for the Swans.

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“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.

“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.”

McKay could make his debut in Swansea’s Championship opener at Sheffield United this weekend.