Fraser Wilson

Al worthy of a Hampden swansong

MUCH was made of Allan McGregor putting his 14-year Euro final hurt behind him in Seville on Wednesday.

The Europa League showpiece might have ended in an agonising defeat but at least the veteran got to experience the occasion having been deprived by injury in 2008.

But that fixture wasn’t the only final itch McGregor was looking to scratch. Incredibly, despite three winners’ gongs to his name, McGregor has never set foot in a Scottish Cup Final.

And with his contract up and huge question marks over whether he will even continue his playing career it now looks like he never will. Gio van Bronckhorst has decided to stick with Cup keeper Jon McLaughlin. That’s his prerogative and given the form of the back-up keeper in the competition it’s hard to argue.

But it’s harsh on McGregor too who now looks to have been deprived of one final chance to bow out a winner on the field.

McGregor’s three successes in the tourney have all come as an unused sub – as back-up to Stefan Klos 20 years ago and then 12 months later as Dundee were put to the sword.

He was injured and played no part as Queen of the South were beaten 3-2 in 2008 but was back on the bench at Hampden a year later, playing second fiddle to Neil Alexander as the Boozegate storm rumbled on, when Nacho Novo’s goal saw off Falkirk.

Today was an opportunity for the 40-year-old to bow out a winner.

In almost any other circumstance I’d have backed McLaughlin to keep the gloves. Many believe the 34-year-old is now a better all-round keeper than McGregor. They’re probably right too.

But when it comes to big, gamedefining saves, there are still few better than the veteran whose presence between the sticks is felt from the moment the opposing team sheet drops through the dressing room door.

Call it sentimental or whatever, McGregor deserved to be handed the gloves this afternoon.

A Hampden clash at the opposite end from old rival Craig Gordon really would have been a fitting finale.

McGregor deserved to be handed the gloves this afternoon

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