JON HAS A ONE TRACK MIND
New Gers keeper McLaughlin has vowed not to just be a bench warmer and stay in Scotland frame
RANGERS new boy Jon McLaughlin insists he hasn’t moved to Ibrox only to make up the numbers.
The former Hearts and Sunderland No.1 is ready to push Allan McGregor all the way – and cement his place under Steve Clarke with Scotland.
McLaughlin, 32, is up for the challenge of dethroning McGregor, who has been a virtual ever present since re-joining the club two years ago.
The 38-year-old has proved his worth for Steven Gerrard time and again, especially in Europe, and recently signed a contract extension to the end of the current campaign.
McLaughlin is a huge admirer of the former Scotland star, who won 42 caps before announcing his retirement from international football last March.
But he has vowed to push him all the way in the coming months as the Light Blues bid to end their trophy drought and win their first major silverware since 2011.
McLaughlin said: “I certainly hope that I’m not coming here just to fill a space on the bench.
“Of course this is a massive club with a very good squad of players and a fantastic keeper and I just want to be part of that squad and push it forward, improve the overall squad and be ready when called upon.
“Hopefully that can be sooner rather than later but I understand what I’m coming into and the task ahead. I’m looking forward to that challenge because if I can make that work then it would be incredible to be part of.
“When I had initial meetings with the gaffer and the club, it was the case that they want to have serious competition in all positions on the pitch. If you’re going to be at the very top then good clubs have that throughout.
“They don’t have people just along for the ride or just sitting on the bench if you want to be competitive at a serious level.”
McLaughlin was given assurances in discussions with Gerrard about his future that the road to first-team football was wide open.
It was the words he needed to hear as McLaughlin has averaged 35 games a season since first breaking through at Bradford more than a decade ago.
He has never been a back up in his life but respects the challenge posed by the consistency shown by McGregor throughout his career.
McLaughlin added: “I hope they were true in what they said and the manager said that they
want me to compete for that shirt.
“But, of course, you understand completely the way it works.
“Greegsy has been doing fantastically and he has the position by right. You have to come and just do everything you can not to take that away from them but so that the manager can see you can fill that space when needed.
“Whenever that is, you must be ready to contribute as soon as you are asked.”
McLaughlin’s performances at Tynecastle and the Stadium of Light saw him break into the Scotland squad for the first time in March 2018.
He made his Scotland debut in June that year during the end of season tour to South and Central America, when he performed heroically in the 1-0 defeat to Mexico in the Azteca Stadium.
He had left Hearts just days before and was officially without a club but after signing for Sunderland he continued to be involved with the squad, winning his second cap in the 6-0 demolition of San Marino at Hampden last October.
He said: “I want to be a valuable member of the squad and contribute regularly. All of that, hopefully, will only strengthen my cause with the national team.
“It’s a real privilege to be involved in that, the play-off game is coming up and beyond that we don’t know. So I hope to continue to be involved in the national team set-up and from that point of view I want to give 100 percent every day to force my way into that reckoning and hopefully keep that national team spot alive for myself.”
Meanwhile, Rangers have signed keeper Robbie McCrorie on a contract extension until 2023, disappointing West Ham and a string of English clubs who had been keeping tabs on the youngster.
McCrorie, 22, was on loan at Livingston last season and has also turned out for Berwick, Morton and Queen of the South.
Gers keeper coach Colin Stewart said: “Each loan spell has allowed him to develop his physical and mental strength. He has a very bright future and will continue to develop into a top quality keeper.”
McCrorie is set to return to Livi for the new campaign and said: “I am buzzing it has been done. I first joined the club when I was eight years old and I am happy that the journey is continuing.
“It means everything to me and my family. Every day, being the Rangers keeper is always in the back of my mind and it is why I work as hard as I can to give myself the best opportunity.
“And if it does happen, I’ll always want more after that. I’ll never settle – even if I get my debut, I’ll always keep pushing.”
I hope that I am not just coming here to take a place on the bench JON McLAUGHLIN ON HIS AIMS AT RANGERS