In a recent interview with Go Radio, Rangers legend and former captain Barry Ferguson has advised Robby McCrorie to leave the club on loan for regular football rather than continuing as the third-choice behind two veteran compatriots Jon McLaughlin and Allan McGregor.
“He needs to go and play. I think he has the potential to be a Rangers number one in the future, and Scotland. But he has to go and get that experience. He’s only played two first-team games for Rangers so he can go out and play.”
The 24-year-old custodian remained as an unused substitute in Scotland’s emphatic 3-0 UEFA Nations League win against Ukraine. He is also rated highly by the Tartan Army boss Steve Clarke who, however, echoed the same words despite calling him into his squad in place of injured McLaughlin.
The Light Blues manager Giovanni van Bronckhorst relied on 40-year-old McGregor for the Napoli and Dundee United games prior to the international break. McCrorie’s last senior appearance was more than a year back when he made some crucial saves in their 1-0 win against Celtic during Steven Gerrard’s regime.
Why Rangers Must Make The Call
He also kept a clean sheet on his first-team debut versus FC Alashkert a few days before the Old Firm clash. But these two back-to-back games remain the only senior outings so far for his boyhood club. The Dutch chief does not fancy him between the sticks and the club, therefore, must consider a winter loan to help him develop his game with regular minutes.
The former Scotland youth international progressed through the Gers academy ranks and enjoyed an array of productive loan spells across divisions. While he featured week in week out for the League Two outfit Berwick Rangers, stints with Greenock Morton and Queen of the South in the Championship earned him Premiership starts with Livingston.
The conundrum during Covid-19 saw Rangers keeping hold of McCrorie last year. A sensational summer move to Manchester United did not materialize either and as things stand, the goalkeeper has to stay patient for at least three more months before securing a transfer.
Having said that, Rangers must not part ways with McCrorie on permanent terms. The talented keeper has all the traits to become the future ‘number 1’ for his club as well as the national team, and Van Bronckhorst, too, should promote him with a view to finding a long-term solution in the last line of defence.
