Billy King expecting St Mirren to crash Rangers title party

Billy King had Rangers to thank for getting his Hearts title party started 12 months ago - but he does not expect St Mirren to do the Light Blues a similar favour this time round.

The Jambos winger lifted the Championship crown last season after Robbie Neilson's men romped to the title.

But victory was ultimately sealed when Rangers beat nearest challengers Hibs at Easter Road to kill off the Leith title push.

King is now looking to land his second successive second-tier winner's medal after joining Gers on loan in January and could be celebrating as soon as Saturday night if Mark Warburton's team beat Raith Rovers in Kirkcaldy and Hibs fail to beat St Mirren.

But the 21-year-old reckons Alan Stubbs' men will pull the plug on their party hopes by winning in Paisley.

He said: "Last season Rangers won it for us at Easter Road. Lee Wallace scored the winner to seal the title for us. We all watched the game and it was great scenes.

"But we're not thinking about those kind of things yet. We need to concentrate on Raith and see what happens. We're not talking anything for granted.

"Raith will be a tough game and you'd expect Hibs to win as well - if they do, we'll just take it on to Tuesday night.''

Hearts boss Neilson wants King back in the summer but the boyhood Jambos supporter is refusing to think about what lies ahead while he focuses on pushing Gers' title bid over the line.

But even if he does wave goodbye to Warburton's squad, he has seen enough in his short Ibrox stint to be confident Rangers will thrive in the Premiership next season.

He said: "I've not really thought about that to be honest. I'm just concentrating on Rangers and winning the league. I'm taking it day by day. I've not been too thinking about the future to be honest.

"At the end of the season I'll think about it then. I'll speak to Robbie Neilson and see where I stand.

"But as far as I know, I'll be going back to Hearts at the end of the season.

"I've gained a lot of experience here though. I've played with different players and under a different manager. I'm still young, 21, and yet to reach my full potential, so every day is a learning day for me.

"How do I think Rangers will do next season? I think they would do very well in the league.

"They will definitely be inside the top three or four. Obviously the manager will be looking to strengthen as well, so you never know who is going to go out and come in this summer.

"We will see what happens but if you look at how well the Hearts team have done this season then definitely with this squad, Rangers could be inside the top three.''

King was part of Ricky Sbragia's Scotland Under-21 side gunned down by France in last week's European Championship qualifier.

It was the latest blow dished out to the Dark Blues youth system following a string of poor results for the under-19s and 17s.

But King reckons the criticism hurled at the young Scots has been harsh, considering France's youngsters are amongst the best in the world.

He said: "France are a top side, very physical. I think we're just as good as these guys technically but their players were just physically that bit better - quicker, sharper, stronger. That was hard to compete with to be honest.

"How do we get to that level? That's the tough question.

"You could argue about it all day but I just think it's down to genetics.

"You can only do so much. I can get a bit quicker but I'll never be as quick as some of their lads. That's down to genetics and lifestyle. You can do all the gym work in the world but they have a bigger selection of players to choose from and that plays a big part.''