Ehiogu may quit Ibrox in bid to find regular football

The defender has struggled to force his way back into the team after suffering an Achilles injury in the summer and has featured in just one game this season, against East Fife in the CIS Insurance Cup.

David Weir and Carlos Cuellar have now established themselves as the preferred central defensive pairing, while Andy Webster will provide further competition once fully fit.

Ehiogu insists walking away from Rangers would be tough but, at the age of 35, claims he has to consider his career if he still finds himself on the fringes when the transfer window opens.

He has already held talks with manager Walter Smith about his future and said: "I've only known the manager for a short time but I quite like his honesty.

"I can come to him and put my point across and he will listen and vice versa. I'm always talking to the gaffer and we are quite close on where we both stand, there is a lot of honesty there.

"We will wait and see what the situation brings. I clearly want to be playing and I want to be playing here which is why I'm here.

"If opportunities do come my way, it's up to me to take them. If they don't, then we will sit down and discuss the future and what is best for Rangers and myself.

"I'm not registered to play in Europe anyway so that doesn't really affect me but leaving this club would be a major, major blow because I love playing football here. But I have to balance that out with playing and my age and it's a difficult balance."

Strong defensive displays have been credited for much of Rangers' success this season and Ehiogu admits he cannot fault Smith for sticking with Weir and Cuellar.

He added: "I suppose I've got to accept certain things, as you get older you have to do that.

"I have to take small strides and if I do get a chance then hopefully I can get a little run to stake a claim.

"I was out for seven or eight weeks with my Achilles and the boys came in and did really well.

"It's testament to them that the centre pair hasn't changed. I can't really grumble about that, I just need to wait for an opportunity."

Ehiogu will be in the squad for tomorrow's CIS Insurance Cup tie at Motherwell but has no idea whether he will play any part in the game at Fir Park yet.

"At this club every game is a game which has to be won," he said.

"It depends how the manager sees it - whether he wants to change a team that has done exceptionally well or whether he wants to put in some fringe players and rest a few.

"At this point, I don't know which way the gaffer is going to go.

"It's a tough one because I can understand the manager not wanting to change a winning formula but on the other hand the players on the outside who haven't had a great deal of opportunity are desperate to play.

"It's weighing that up and finding the right balance."