Carl McHugh relishing chance on the big stage

New Motherwell midfielder Carl McHugh admits their Betfred Cup clash with Rangers is an example of why he jumped at the chance to move to Scotland.

The 23-year-old signed for Motherwell earlier this month after Plymouth felt they had agreed a contract extension, and he cannot wait to get started when Rangers visit Fir Park on Saturday in the revamped group stage.

"Obviously it would be great to test yourself against teams like that,'' he said.

"Rangers will be very strong. You would expect them to be right up there this season when you look at some of the signings they have made.

"It's a great test for us, it's very early and being ready for the league is the main priority, but this is a massive game for us and it will give us a good yardstick of where we are.''

McHugh had earlier revealed he took a wage cut in order to move to Scotland for football and family reasons.

"The opportunity came up quite late in the day and I just felt for myself and my family it was an opportunity I couldn't turn down,'' the Irishman said.

"You are playing at a lot of really good grounds and good clubs, and there's a lot of high-profile games at big clubs.

"It's a great opportunity. Motherwell have competed in Europe a lot over the past five or six seasons and that's a bit of an ambition, to try and be involved in those games this time next year.''

The late change of heart did not go down well in Plymouth, whose fans took to social media to criticise McHugh.

But McHugh has only one regret and that is not helping Derek Adams' side seal promotion from Sky Bet League 2, after they lost in the play-off final.

"I had a really good two years there and played a lot of games,'' he said.

"I had a really good relationship with everyone at the club and I gave everything I could every time I pulled on the shirt.

"It's just one of those things, there was a bit of disappointment when you leave but I wish them all the best and I hope they have a really good season and go one step further than we did last season.

"We just didn't get over the line and that was the biggest disappointment of leaving there.''

Former Chester defender Ben Heneghan, ex-Grimsby right-back Richard Tait and former Leicester forward Jacob Blyth could also make their debuts but Louis Moult (groin) is a doubt.