Michael Beale made it a dozen games unbeaten as Rangers boss but it was anything but delightful as the nervy Ibrox men edged past Ross County.
17.01.2023 - 02:15 / dailyrecord.co.uk
Michael Beale has backed Allan McGregor to remain his Rangers No.1 after insisting the veteran Ibrox stopper is still the best keeper in Scotland.
The 40-year-old found himself playing second fiddle to Jon McLaughlin at the start of the season under former boss Gio van Bronckhorst. His glove rivals’ infamous Old Firm howler at Parkhead back in September paved the way for a return but new boss Beale has made sure to test out both men in action since taking over last month.
With third-choice back-up Robby McCrorie promised he'll get a chance to impress when he returns from injury early next month, it appears McGregor will have to get used to taking time off. But Beale insists former Scotland ace McGregor has no issue with his rotation policy and knows fine well he rates him the best keeper in the country. Steven Gerrard’s former assistant declared: “Allan McGregor is the best goalie in Scotland.
"Me and Allan have got an unbelievable trust, built up over a long period of time. He knows that every now and then, I'm going to say to him, 'OK Al, rest up this one and play this one'. But the majority of the time he'll play. In my opinion he is the No.1 goalkeeper in Scotland and I think we’re not far off from having that with the other couple that we have in the building.
“I get when people say, ’Allan McGregor, you leave him out', but he's completely up to speed with everything that is going on. He's a really mature man. He thinks about the whole club, the whole team, not just himself, and that's why he's been such a top professional.”
McGregor was benched for last week’s win at Tannadice but was back between the sticks at Hampden, where two crucial extra-time stops helped Rangers edge past Aberdeen to book a Viaplay Cup final
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