Alnwick not daunted by challenge after completing Rangers switch
JAK ALNWICK insists he won’t be fazed by life at Rangers after cutting his teeth under the spotlight at Newcastle United.
The goalkeeper has become the third arrival of the January window at Ibrox, penning a three-and-a-half-year deal with the club. He will challenge Wes Foderingham for the No.1 jersey after making the move north from League 1 Port Vale.
Alnwick made his Premier League bow three years ago against Chelsea as Newcastle recorded a 2-1 win at St James’ Park. And the Englishman reckons his time in the north-east will stand him in good stead as he looks to settle into life in the Glasgow goldfish bowl this term.
“Newcastle have crowds of 50,000 every week and you are expected to win every week, which is how it should be,” Alnwick said. “I was young at the time and inexperienced but I learned a lot from that and took it on to Port Vale and put in the performances when I had that experience. I feel I have grown into a better goalkeeper.
“That is sometimes people’s problem clubNOwhentheygetthrownintoabig . They are a bit overwhelmed. But for me it won’t be that. I look forward to every single moment with this fantastic club.
“It is security but you can’t sit back and think, ‘I have a three-and-a-half-year deal’. It is time to push on. I took this as a step forward in my career and not to sit back. It is to kick on and get this team back to where it should be – European football and winning trophies.”
After leaving Newcastle in the summer of 2015, Alnwick went on to establish himself in League 1 and become a key player for Port Vale. The 23-year-old made 31 appearances before Rangers agreed a £250,000 deal to bring him to Ibrox on the penultimate day of business.
Ibrox No.1 Wes Foderingham has been a stand-out performer for Mark Warburton’s side this term, but Alnwick is relishing the battle for the gloves in the coming months.
“I am going to come in and work as hard as I can,” he told RangersTV. “Wes has been excellent, even back to his Swindon days.
“He has come here and done really well, so it is going to be a tough job. But I will keep training, keep plugging away and whatever happens, happens. I am just happy to be here.”