Michael Beale reveals ‘100%’ Robby McCrorie plan after Rangers 3-0 victory vs Celtic amid transfer plans
Michael Beale has admitted Robby McCrorie is 100% in his long-term thinking at Rangers after the goalkeeper kept a second successive clean sheet against Celtic on Saturday (13 May).
McCrorie, 25, was preferred to Allan McGregor for the second game running and delivered a strong performance in the 3-0 win over Ange Postecoglou’s side at Ibrox.
The Gers are reportedly in advanced talks to sign Manchester United loanee Jack Butland this summer, but Beale admitted that the Scottish shot-stopper is still in the frame for a long-term future with the first team. [Daily Record, 2 May]
As reported by Glasgow Times, he said: “I think he will only get better with time. He’s 100 per cent in my thinking.
“Listen, we are going to lose one goalkeeper because he is out of contract. We are not in the job of signing bad ones. We’ve had Allan and Jon (McLaughlin), two Scottish internationals, and Robbie has been in the group.
“He has been injured for four of the six months I’ve been here, but he always knew he would get an opportunity. All he can do is keep playing as he did today.
“I think that’s four clean sheets on the bounce as a Rangers first-team keeper so that’s not a bad record to upkeep. He has set a high standard for himself.”
Banging on the door.
With Beale admitting that McGregor is set to leave Ibrox this summer, a glaring hole has suddenly appeared in the heart of Rangers’ squad for next season.
Without both McGregor and possibly McLaughlin in the first team beyond this summer, McCrorie suddenly looks like he could be in with a great shout of getting the permanent number one jersey.
After an impressive performance in the 1-0 win over Aberdeen, the Scottish-born goalkeeper delivered the goods yet again, pulling off a crucial save from Matt O’Riley in the second half.
With the game still in the balance at 2-0 and the Hoops midfielder’s strike heading goal-bound, the left hand that McCrorie got on the ball to push it over the bar was one of the match-defining moments.
Even if the Gers sign Butland this summer, he is putting his hand up as a serious competitor for the full-time Rangers goalkeeping spot under Beale.
In other Rangers news, the Portugal manager has been raving about the talent of one Ibrox ace.