Ross thrilled to see reliable McLaughlin seize

DURING his toughest days at Sunderland, Jack Ross knew he could depend on Jon McLaughlin.

Sound of talent and temperament, the goalkeeper was one of the manager’s first signings at the Stadium of Light and a source of reassurance during the ensuing months of tumult. On that basis, Ross suspected McLaughlin would be a shrewd signing for Rangers when the Scotland international followed him back over the border in June.

Not for a second did the Hibernian boss foresee him displacing Allan McGregor and helping his new club establish a Scottish shut-out record at the start of the Premiership season.

Last weekend’s win over Dundee United yielded Rangers’ seventh consecutive clean sheet of the new league campaign, with McLaughlin keeping goal for six of those fixtures.

It is Ross’s job to find a game plan that places the keeper under greater pressure today but, at some stage, he intends to catch up with a player he holds in the highest regard.

‘Jon was brilliant for me, up there with as good a signing I made at the club,’ said Ross. ‘Reliability and quality, and very low maintenance as a player as well. Allan’s injury maybe afforded him his initial opportunity but I haven’t been surprised by his performance levels.

‘Going into this game, I know how good a goalkeeper he is and I’m looking forward to seeing him.

‘I have spoken to him a couple of times. I have messaged him but haven’t seen him in a while. And I am delighted for him personally as he has made such a good start to his career there.’

Pitched in when McGregor injured his back in the wake of the opening day win at Aberdeen, McLaughlin has performed with such calm confidence that he has kept his place even as McGregor has returned to the matchday squad.

Last weekend’s 4-0 win over Dundee United saw Rangers break Celtic’s 114-year-old record for consecutive clean sheets at the beginning of the season and Ross feels McLaughlin has now made the jersey his to keep.

Ross continued: ‘I didn’t believe Jon would be happy going there as back-up. But I think he knew, given Allan’s experience, quality and pedigree and his recent form that he was probably going in to the understudy position.

‘Having worked with him, I know he has belief in his own abilities that he would think if he got the opportunity he’d have a chance of staying in.

‘He is enjoyable for a manager because he is high output but low maintenance.’

Given Hibs’ own start to the season, Ross is confident his team can test Rangers at Easter Road this afternoon.

Themselves solid enough at the back to not have conceded from open play, Hibs also possess a goal threat.

So seamless has striker Kevin Nisbet