Novo insists past record counts for nothing

New Rangers signing Nacho Novo insists the 25 goals he scored for a struggling Dundee side last season is no guarantee he will be an automatic pick at Ibrox.

The 25-year-old Spaniard signed a four-year deal to complete a £450,000 (€672,800) move from Dundee, with the player also having turned down Celtic, who were prepared to pay £50,000 (€74,700) more.

The diminutive striker’s record in front of goal for a club which was in administration had attracted clubs in England as well as the Old Firm.

But Novo insisted past exploits counted for little now he was a Rangers player.

He said: “I believe I always need to prove myself. Any year is a new year. I have been given the opportunity to come here and I want to take it.”

Rangers manager Alex McLeish was delighted with the former Raith forward’s attitude.

He said: “You hear a lot of players saying: ‘I have got nothing to prove’ but in football you are only as good as your last game.

“For me, that is a great answer and tells me a lot about the player.”