At 40-years old, Allan McGregor has already pushed the boundaries in terms of his footballing career at the highest level, a career that could end on the highest of highs if he keeps a couple of clean sheets in his next two games, should he be picked of course.
There is no doubting his place in the pantheon of Gers number ones, however, he has dipped from his player of the year form of last year, making mistakes that have cost us points in the league – his Europa League form has been at it’s usual high level though.
Rangers have been linked with a few keepers already with Jon McLaughlin signing a new deal that could see him take over in between the sticks on a more regular basis, a safe pair of hands until a long-term successor is found but there has also been reports of McGregor being offered another year in an unlikely turn of events.
Speaking to Football Insider, former team-mate and friend, Alan Hutton, has backed the veteran stopper to report back for pre-season, if he is given the chance:
“Why not have one more year? I believe he could still play on.
“He’s been criticised from time to time for making mistakes but I’ve always said that’s because his bar is that high. People judge him at that level and if he ever falls from that level, you’re under the microscope.
“That’s because he plays so well week in, week out. It is what it is when you’re a goalkeeper. This is a guy who’s built for the big games, built for the big moments.
“Even if he does sign for next year and they bring in another goalkeeper for competition, that’s also good for him. You can spread the minutes between the keepers.
“I want to see him play on but ultimately it’s going to be down to him.”
Thankfully, we are already well covered should McGregor hang up his gloves with both McLaughlin and Robby McCrorie proving that they can be trusted but I just don’t think our current number one has another year at the top left in him.
He has started to creak this season, I don’t think he has left his line since dropping a corner against Hearts and costing us two points and for all that his European form has been imperious, his domestic form just hasn’t been good enough.
If he does decide that he has had enough then he will, rightly, leave as a legend, winning the Europa League and Scottish Cup this week would surely propel him to the status as our greatest ever keeper, now that wouldn’t be a bad way to bow out would it?