Allan McGregor expected to be axed from Rangers XI – expert
Alan Hutton has backed Jon McLaughlin to start between the sticks for Rangers in their Premier Sports Cup quarter final.
However, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the ex-Gers defender said the game would be a “great opportunity” for 24-year-old Robby McCrorie to get much needed game time.
The Light Blues face Dundee in the quarter-final of the competition on Wednesday (18 October).
On 6 October the Bears confirmed that McCrorie has signed a new contract keeping him at Ibrox until 2025.
The keeper is yet to make an appearance for Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s side so far this season, with in form Allan McGregor and previous number one McLaughlin ahead of him in the pecking order.
McLaughlin had been Van Bronckhorst’s go-to at the start of the season but he has favoured Rangers veteran McGregor in recent weeks.
Hutton suggested McLaughlin will start ahead of McCrorie and McGregor for the League Cup game.
“I think it would be a great opportunity for McCrorie to play if I am honest,” he told Football Insider.
“Jon McLaughlin started out as number one, Allan McGregor has come back in to the frame. Robby McCrorie has just signed a new long-term contract and it looks like he could possibly be the one to take up the mantle moving forward.
“I think when he has been tested in games gone by he has stuck to the test and has done really well. He needs to progress and he needs to play games. So this would be an opportunity for him to go in and show what he is worth.
“I am not so sure he will start, I think he [Van Bronckhorst] will go with McLaughlin but I definitely think McCrorie needs opportunities to play games.“
In other news, a pundit has cited Nathan Patterson as Rangers backed to green light wonderkid’s exit.