George Overhill

Thu 9 November 2023 12:40, UK

Steve Clarke has suggested that Robby McCrorie could leave Rangers on loan again in order to get game time because the Scotland boss “can’t make a decision” on the keeper unless he plays.

The Tartan Army manager said ahead of the upcoming Euro qualifiers against Georgia and Norway that he believes the Ibrox number two is a “good technical goalkeeper” who he has an “eye on”, but suggested it is still a mystery as to the 25-year-old’s decision making in games.

While the former Kilmarnock boss admitted it is a “difficult situation” for him to get involved in regarding McCrorie’s playing time at Rangers, he mentioned a loan move to hint he might feel that is what is called for.

Clarke said, as per Football Scotland (9 November): “I keep saying that Robby is one we have an eye on for the future, but he needs to play matches. He is not doing that just now. I still think that, the age he is, he can be one for the future. Hopefully he starts to get a few more games.

“It’s a difficult one for me to get involved in because his club decide if he plays week in, week out, or whether he goes on loan. For me, Robby is a good technical goalkeeper. He has good hands and good feet.

“He saves the ball – which is pretty important for a goalkeeper. The thing you don’t know about Robby, and what he will have to show when he gets a chance to play, is decision making on the pitch. I can’t make a decision on that until I see Robby playing some matches.”

Easy answer

Since Clarke has called McCrorie up to the squad, and since Scotland have already qualified, he could easily give the keeper some game time himself if he wants to evaluate his performance.

Fans might suggest that national team fixtures aren’t the place for Ibrox squad matters to be played out, but from a pure Scotland perspective it is surely matches like these where the manager is supposed to get a better idea of who he might be taking to Germany in the summer.

McCrorie hasn’t seen a single minute of action for Rangers yet this term, after Michael Beale gave him an audition to take over from Allan McGregor at the end of last season and then went out and signed Jack Butland.

Unfortunately for the him the former England International immediately had the most impact of all the summer acquisitions and hasn’t looked backed since, with Philippe Clement since indicating he doesn’t plan to let the 30-year-old leave barring something outlandish happening.

Substantial transfer interest from big enough clubs might force the issue though so it is a tricky balance for Rangers to find with McCrorie.

If they can be confident that Butland is set to stay at Ibrox for the foreseeable future then they could afford to move his back-up on permanently, which is increasingly looking necessary for him at present.

But if the number one could feasibly go next summer it would be short-sighted to let McCrorie leave on anything other than another loan just before that.

In other Rangers news, Butland has been tipped to take the captaincy off James Tavernier to further cement his status.