Daily Record

Cammy insists Ibrox icon Allan will decide

- BY CRAIG SWAN

CAMMY BELL reckons Allan McGregor is now irreplacea­ble at Rangers.

But he believes it’ll be the Ibrox No.1 himself who decides whether or not boss Giovanni van Bronckhors­t has to find someone to fill the void. Bell says McGregor is one of best keepers Scotland has ever produced and, even though he turns 40 next month, there are few signs of him losing his touch. The veteran continues to show outstandin­g form with six successive clean sheets before the winter break helping the Dutchman’s team extend their lead in the Premiershi­p to six points.

McGregor also sparkled last term in Europe and domestical­ly as his team won the title.

Bell, who was Rangers keeper during McGregor’s spell away from Govan and also a squad mate with Scotland, feels he can keep going at the highest level.

But with his contract expiring at the end of the season he says it will be down to the man himself and no one else to make a call on the future.

Bell said: “Allan has always been a top goalie in my eyes and he’s one of the best that Scotland has ever produced.

“He shows that form at the moment. In the past two or three seasons, he’s been a huge part in the things Rangers have done. I think he is irreplacea­ble in the dressing room.

“But it’ll be whether Rangers can convince him to continue to play or not and I believe Allan will have the final say.

“I spoke to Allan about it a few years ago. It was just after a pre-season and he said ‘I don’t know why I put myself through this every year!’ But he loves football, he loves playing.

“The form that he is in, you’d think why would he retire? But this is a decision he is going to want to make himself, I’d say.

“He is fit, he has not had huge or major injury problems throughout his career. He’s been fortunate from that point of

 ?? ?? RESPECT Cammy Bell is a huge admirer of Allan McGregor
RESPECT Cammy Bell is a huge admirer of Allan McGregor

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from United Kingdom