It was a brilliant victory over rivals Celtic that brought Rangers back in the title contention on New Year’s Eve. But a dip in form after the winter break resulted in a downfall for Steven Gerrard’s men. The former Liverpool and England midfield icon reconfigured the squad with an array of new signings which, however, saw a string of regulars losing their starting role.
Wes Foderingham is one such name who lost his place to Allan McGregor, the veteran Scotsman who returned to his boyhood club on a Bosman transfer. The 37-year-old soon exhibited his mastery in goal and was the preferred ‘number 1’ over the Englishman who featured as the first-choice in past three campaigns.
At the age of 28, it is justified for Foderingham to demand a regular role and the custodian has rightly kept his options open even though he opted not to move out in the winter window. McGregor’s two-game ban has brought him back into the starting XI temporarily, but a clean sheet versus St Johnstone on Saturday afternoon won’t earn him his place back in the long run.
The keeper understands the complexity of the situation considering McGregor’s sublime form. However, at the same time, he has reiterated his desire to play week in week out having made Gerrard aware of it.
“I won’t put a timescale on it. I’ll look at all the options that are available to me and make decisions based on that. We will see where we are at the end of the season.”
The above is what the player said (as quoted by the Scottish Sun) implying that he is weighing up a summer move away from the Ibrox.
The Bears roped in Andy Firth last month, and it is likely that the former Liverpool prodigy would be promoted as McGregor’s understudy if Foderingham part ways at the end of the ongoing term. He is under contract until the summer of 2020, and the club too should look to make a profit on the player whom they snapped up for free from Swindon Town.
McGregor, though in his late thirties, is still going strong and has cemented his place for at least one more season beyond the current one. The Gers would be pushing for silverware the next term and looking to shatter Celtic’s monopoly.
A player of his stature must be leading them from behind to reclaim the lost glory. Foderingham, therefore, should move on and kickstart his career elsewhere where he would be having assured minutes between the sticks.
