Rice joins Kilmarnock on loan from Rangers

Kilmarnock have signed Rangers midfielder Bailey Rice on loan until the end of the season. The 19-year-old has made 16 first team appearances for the Ibrox club, one of which came last season in the League Cup. The midfielder also worked under head coach Neil McCann and assistant Billy Dodds when the pair were part of Barry Ferguson's temporary Rangers coaching staff last year. Rangers teammate Findlay Curtis spent last season on loan with Neil McCann's side, scored five goals in 14 appearances for the Ayrshire club and earned his first senior cap for Scotland and a place in the World Cup squad. "It's a big club, and we've got a good team," Rice told Killie TV. "I obviously know the gaffer and Doddsy well, so I've got a good relationship with them. I'm looking forward to it. "I've been close with the manager here throughout my career for different reasons. He's honest, he doesn't hold anything back, and that's what I like. "I've got good vision when on the ball. I'm hoping I can take that onto the pitch, and take games by the scruff of the neck." Head coach McCann added: "He's someone I've known for a long time, even in his younger days. "When we spent time at Rangers, we played him against Athletic Bilbao, and he came on against Dundee as well. Unfortunately, he didn't manage to continue that progress under the new management team. "He's somebody that I've always kept an eye on and he's got so much to offer us. The challenge for Bailey now is to get into our team. That's a challenge I think he's going to embrace."