Robby McCrorie likely to push for January Rangers exit after ‘difficult’ Steve Clarke verdict this week
Steve Clarke’s comments this week are bound to have had an impact on Robby McCrorie’s outlook on his situation at Rangers, with an exit now almost certain to be on the cards.
The Scottish keeper hasn’t seen a single minute of first-team action for the Light Blues yet this term under either Michael Beale or Philippe Clement, with Jack Butland’s summer arriving firmly relegating him to number two at Ibrox.
He was called up to the latest national team squad despite that for the pair of Euro qualifiers against Georgia and Norway, but ahead of the double-header the Scotland boss explained he has no way to judge the 25-year-old’s decision making in matches when he isn’t playing.
Clarke said, via Football Scotland (9 November): “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.”
McCrorie’s situation at Ibrox, where he has been promoted from third-choice to primary back-up having overtaken Jon McLaughlin, was already an area of the Rangers squad that carried questions.
Having been at the club for a decade he has only made six first-team appearances, four of which came at the end of last season when it looked like he might win the starting job after Allan McGregor retired.
But Butland’s arrival put paid to that, and barring a big money approach for the former England international in upcoming transfer windows it doesn’t look like the situation is likely to change any time soon.
It was reported during the summer that McCrorie was unsettled after the 30-year-old arrived from Crystal Palace, and clubs had made approaches to sign him, including Manchester United where he would have filled the gap left by Butland after spending last season on loan at Old Trafford, although no move materialised.
However, with Clarke now making explicit the need for the Rangers man to find a way to get game time if he wants to be properly evaluated, not least with a summer tournament on the horizon, it would be more a surprise if the former Livingston loanee didn’t push for a move in January.
Assuming no injuries befall Butland a loan departure seems quite possible, although Gers fans would certainly feel more comfortable with McCrorie as security than McLaughlin.
If the number makes clear his intention to stay long-term then a sale could also be on the table, with Clement then likely to look for a new back up, but either way a move of some sort seems unavoidable.
The former academy product is unlikely to want to be approaching 30 and still not have had a real shot at being the established starter, and now the national team boss’ perspective is sure to speed up a decision on the situation.
In other Rangers news, an official club partner hit back at Ewan Murray over his “embarrassment” claim on social media.