Lewis Stewart is determined to use his loan spell at Queen's Park as a springboard to secure a new contract with Rangers. The 19-year-old winger, who signed a one-year deal with the Scottish Premiership side this summer, is eager to extend his stay at Ibrox beyond the current season.
Stewart is on a cooperation loan, allowing him to feature for both Queen's Park and Rangers throughout the campaign. He impressed during a previous loan at Alloa Athletic last season and now aims to make an impact at a higher level in the Scottish Championship.
Stewart's Ambition for the Season
Speaking about his goals, Stewart said: "Just go out and do as well as last season, but at a higher level now. It's a big year for me now to do that as I signed a new one-year contract with Rangers. I'm looking to push myself on here this season and get another contract next year."
The young attacker praised Queen's Park manager Sean Crighton for his faith in youth. "The gaffer here has faith in young players and told me that when he phoned to sign me. He brought a few of us on against Aberdeen and we didn't come on with fear, we came on to have a real go at it."
Learning from Alloa Experience
Stewart reflected on his successful loan at Alloa, where he initially struggled for game time. "It's just about going out again but to a higher league this time and try to make an impact in the Championship now. I take a lot of confidence from what happened after a tough start at Alloa as the first eight games I wasn't really playing. But when the gaffer gave me a chance at Alloa I feel I really took and my confidence from that was really good."
Recent Performance Against Aberdeen
Queen's Park recently lost 2-1 to Aberdeen, with Stewart coming close to equalising in stoppage time. New Aberdeen goalkeeper Marius Muller made a point-blank save to deny him. Stewart described the match: "It was definitely difficult as it was a tough opposition and in the first half we were poor. When we go 2-0 down so early we go in our shell but the message was to keep it at two until half time. We regrouped and in the second half we showed what Queen's Park are as we went out and dominated the ball. We played the way the manager wanted us to play and I thought I had equalised at the end. I thought their keeper was at the near post and it just needed a glance but the goalie had some second half. The three saves he made even before my one was different class and he's a big unit to get passed. We were told to go low and hard against him and Jack's header was certainly low and hard."
Looking Ahead
Queen's Park still have a chance to qualify, needing to beat Queen of the South on Saturday. Stewart insisted: "We went into the Aberdeen game believing we could beat them and we did end up giving them a good game. Now we need to refocus, go into the game with Queen of the South with the same attitude."
