After catching the eye of many clubs, he signed for St Johnstone, in a reported five-figure deal in August 2006.
[5] He made his Clyde début in July 2008, in a 2–0 victory over Annan Athletic in the Scottish Challenge Cup.
[6] McLaren was named Scottish Football League player of the month in January 2009, after scoring 3 goals in consecutive games.
[8] McLaren was signed by manager Gordon Chisholm for Dumfries club Queen of the South in June 2009 from Clyde,[9] as was his teammate, goalkeeper David Hutton.
[10] The departure of Chisholm and strikers' coach Billy Dodds from Queens on 22 March 2010, along with the promotion of Kenny Brannigan to the manager's position, coincided with the beginning of a surge in form from McLaren.
[11] McLaren's second goal for Queens was at Palmerston on 27 March 2010 against Dunfermline in another 2–0 home win, when he scored in first half injury time.
[11][15] McLaren's sixth goal for Queens arrived after 54 minutes in the 1–0 home win against Ross County on 20 April 2010.
[22] In November it was announced that McLaren was joining Scottish League Second Division side Airdrie United on loan until January 2012.