Sky Sports pundit claims early Rangers team news v Celtic, tips player to start amid speculation
Kris Boyd has claimed that Allan McGregor will play in goals for Rangers when they take on Celtic on Saturday despite the goalkeeper reportedly being a doubt for the Old Firm.
Earlier this week, the Daily Record reported that McGregor, 38, could miss the trip to Parkhead, along with Kemar Roofe, Joe Aribo and Filip Helander.
In the final match before the international break when Rangers won 2-0 versus Ross County, McGregor was an unused substitute as Jon McLaughlin played in goals.
Sky Sports commentator Ian Crocker was surprised by that call from Steven Gerrard, which led to ex-Rangers striker Boyd asserting that McGregor will start against Celtic.
Speaking on Sky Sports’ Scottish Football Podcast, Crocker said: “That team kind of picks itself if everyone’s available although Jon McLaughlin played against Ross County ahead of Allan McGregor, which was a bit of a strange one.
Boyd responded by saying: “Yeah, Allan McGregor plays on Saturday. There’s no getting away from it.”
If McGregor is available then he has to start against Celtic.
He’s reportedly a doubt for the Old Firm but McGregor’s been nursing an injury for most of the opening weeks of the season.
We assume that during the international break he has been able to continue his recovery and he should be at a point where he’s able to start.
McLaughlin has not done much wrong since joining the Gers from Sunderland in the summer by keeping seven clean sheets in eight Scottish Premiership appearances.
But there’s no denying that McGregor is an Old Firm expert with 30 career appearances against Celtic.
Not many players have played more times in an Old Firm derby than McGregor, who’s a Rangers man through and through and a real leader at the back.
Even if he’s not at 100 per cent, he should start this match.
In other Rangers news, Charlie Adam has hit out at a fan for criticising Ryan Jack’s display for Scotland.