SNS GroupRangers boss Derek McInnes has stressed his desire to sign James Penrice on a permanent deal.
The 27-year-old left-back joined on a season-long loan from Greek club AEK Athens in the summer, and his form has earned him his first Scotland call-up.
Penrice was included in Sebastien Pocognoli’s 26-man squad for the upcoming Nations League games against North Macedonia and Switzerland.
McInnes said: “Certainly I’ve made my feelings clear on it.
“Ideally, I would like to have done it as a permanent, but the best way forward at the time was a loan.
“But I think we’re all aware of what it needs to be to make it permanent.
“But I think there’s a lot of goodwill all round to try and that could be something that we’d like to do.
“The conversations I’ve had with Jim (Gillespie, chief executive) and the board have been along those lines and hopefully we can make that permanent.
“Because I think what he’s done since the first minute is just play with so much enthusiasm, clearly wants to be here.
“He plays properly and he brings quality, but he also brings energy; the fans take to him because of how he performs and how much he wants to win.
“He’s one of the older ones at 27, I think. And a lot of these things are happening for him now, the first Scotland call-up and all the rest of it.
“But he’s a player that I trust, and I think the supporters trust him.
“So hopefully we can make it a longer-term thing going forward. But that’s for the people upstairs to try and sort out.”
McInnes was pleased to see the former Partick Thistle, Livingston and Hearts defender get international recognition.
He said: “It’s great for James to get into the Scotland set-up.
“I think there was no real surprise with it. But nonetheless, you see James’ reaction to it, and that’s the way it should be, getting called up for your country.
“Findlay (Curtis) in there as well, Liam Kelly, so we’re well represented.
“So it’s good for the club that they’re away with Scotland and hopefully it’s a positive experience with them.
“But I think James deserves it and hopefully he can get on the pitch and come back with a couple of caps ideally and he comes back in good form.
“I think the thing that screams out of James is hunger. He’s driven himself to get to where he is now.
“And I don’t think anybody should ever underestimate working with hungry players.
“As soon as you become too comfortable, you become complacent for me. And I think that there is a real hunger there to establish himself here.
“Because he knows, just from what was going on with Findlay there, that Tuur Rommens isn’t going to just move along.
“And James can play a few different positions. But he wants to be here. He plays with loads of enthusiasm and he plays with hunger and he trains with hunger. And he’s had his reward for that.”
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