‘I want to be playing regularly’ – Rangers summer signing makes game-time declaration
Rangers goalkeeper Jon McLaughlin admitted that he wants to play more regularly this season as he bids for a spot in Scotland’s Euro 2020 squad.
The 33-year-old was back in the starting lineup for Rangers’ Betfred League Cup tie against Falkirk on Sunday and kept a welcome clean sheet.
However, he has seen Allan McGregor preferred in the big games this season and prior to the Falkirk match he has started just once since early October.
Speaking after Sunday’s game, McLaughlin said that he was eyeing a place in the Scotland squad for ahead of the summer.
“Of course I want to be playing as regularly as possible,” he said (via Sky Sports).
“Any opportunity you get, you want to take it. You want to make sure you’re performing for your club and being a vital part of what we’re doing here. Hopefully over the course that continues to help you with the national team.
“It would be massive to be a part of it. For all the lads who were away (for the play-off win in Serbia), that was the biggest thing – how much it meant not just to fans but also all of the players over the past 20 years who have been trying to qualify for tournaments. Even better that two out of the three games are going to be on home soil and the game against England is at Wembley. It’s got everything there for us and it was a very proud moment to be involved.”
McLaughlin has done well when given the chance this season, conceding just twice so far this season (via WhoScored).
However, Steven Gerrard has tended to prefer McGregor and the former Sunderland man will be reliant on his rival playing poorly if he is to get more opportunities.
Luckily, Gerrard has been more willing to rotate his goalkeepers than many other managers and with Rangers fighting on three fronts at the moment, there should be more starts for him in the future.
McLaughlin was part of the most recent Scotland squad that secured qualification for Euro 2020 but did not play a part in the match against Serbia.
In terms of being part of the squad for the tournament, he remains in a good position, but he will need more opportunities if he is to get the starting berth.
In other Rangers news, Gerrard makes a confession about Rangers player after clash v Falkirk