MARTYN WAGHORN is confident he could replicate his current scoring streak in Scotland’s top flight after taking his tally for the campaign to 25 with a hat-trick against Cowdenbeath.

The striker helped Mark Warburton’s side ease into the fifth round of the Scottish Cup as the Gers clinched a comfortable 5-1 win over the Blue Brazil at Ibrox.

Waghorn has enjoyed a superb start to the season following his summer switch from Wigan and has now set his sights on breaking the 40-goal barrier this term.

The 25-year-old was a £3million signing by Leicester City in 2010 and has had several clubs already as he looks to realise the potential he showed at an early age.

The current campaign is Waghorn’s most prolific in his professional career to date and the forward is confident there is plenty more to come from him in the coming months and years.

He said: “I moved for a bit of money when I was younger and personally I thought it was the right time to move.

“For different reasons, things didn’t quite work out and the last few years have been about me trying to rebuild myself.

“The gaffer here has put a lot of faith in me. I am very thankful for that. It’s about me working hard.

“I still think I can improve a lot as a player. This is my first full season for the last three or four years. I am still developing and want to bring more to this team.

“I think was about eight years old when I last scored 25 goals in a season. That was probably back in the day at Sunderland’s academy. I’ve not done it in my professional career. My most was 12 or 13.

“It’s very pleasing for me but I felt I could have had more today. I want to keep working to get better.

“I’d like to think [I would be scoring as many goals in the Premiership], with the team we have got and the chances we create. We are a passionate hungry side and I think we’d still create problems for the opposition.

“I’d like to think I could still do it in the SPL and I’ll be tested when we get there. I might not get as many chances so it would be up to me to be more clinical.”

After Lee Wallace and Barrie McKay had put Rangers in control at Ibrox, Dean Brett gave Cowdenbeath hope as he curled home a superb free-kick before the break.

Waghorn ensured there was no chance of a surprise exit for Warburton’s side as he finished well just after the restart before he completed his second hat-trick of the campaign with a penalty brace.

The striker was denied from twelve yards against Falkirk last month but was determined to retain his place ahead of Andy Halliday in the Gers' spot-kick pecking order.

Waghorn said: “Obviously I have missed the last couple and Andy has been in the shout to take it.

“But I am still first on the list to take penalties so I was under a bit of pressure to get that one in. It was all about getting the win and getting through to the next round.

“The gaffer asked me if I still want to take them and I said of course I do, I am a striker.

“Admittedly the striker has a better chance against the keeper but I back myself every day, it is me against the keeper, just about keeping calm and hitting the target.

“It is pleasing I am still on them and thankfully I got a couple today.”