McLaughlin’s calmness willcome as no surprise to Hibees’ gaffer Jack
Hibs head coach, Jack Ross, and his coaching staff will have pored over countless videos and assembled various statistics to ensure they have all the information they need on Rangers.
But what might not be obvious to the eye is goalkeeper Jon McLaughlin’s calming influence on Steven Gerrard’s side.
Ross, for one, is not in the least bit surprised by the impact McLaughlin has made at Ibrox – the 33-year-old has usurped Allan McGregor in the No. 1 position – having signed the player for Sunderland in summer 2018.
Rangers and McLaughlin go into today’s televised clash at Easter Road looking to preserve a record-breaking clean-sheet run that already stretches to seven league games.
Scotland goalkeeper McLaughlin, who has been a regular in the side since McGregor sustained an injury after the opening day win at Aberdeen, has been an integral part of that feat.
Ross’ appreciation of the shotstopper’s qualities has ensured he knows exactly how difficult it will be to get the better of the Rangers keeper this afternoon.
“Jon was brilliant for me. He was up there with as good a signing I made at Sunderland,” 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.
“How he is on the pitch is how he is off the pitch. He is enjoyable for a manager that way because he is high-output but
low-maintenance. He is very relaxed and calm, and a pretty level-headed guy and is good to work with in that respect.
“I know going into this game 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, that he has made such a good start to his career there.”
McLaughlin arrived at Ibrox, knowing he would probably have to bide his time, McGregor’s form in goal having been exemplary under Gerrard.
McGregor returned to action in Gibraltar on Thuersday, but now that he has impressed with the gloves, Ross sees no reason why McLaughlin cannot remain as the first-choice.
He added: “I didn’t believe he would be happy just going there and being a back-up.
“Given Allan’s experience, quality and pedigree – and his recent form as well – I think he knew he was probably going in to the understudy position.
“Having worked with him, I know Jon has belief in his own abilities, and that he would think if he got the opportunity, he’d have a chance of staying in.
“That’s another manager’s choice. But I haven’t been surprised with his performance levels and what he has shown.”
For the game itself, Hibs will attempt to combat Rangers’ high press and get a foothold in the game against a team that likes to dominate possession.
But Ross insists the potency of his side’s attack, including Christian Doidge and Kevin Nisbet, means he will not necessarily be concerned about his team being without the ball for long spells.
He added: “If you flip it and look at why they have done so well, it’s because they have ground teams down.
“They’ve dominated the ball and, because of the fluidity they have and their rotation, from a concentration point of view it becomes difficult to defend against.
“But again, to counter that, you can argue you don’t need to have the ball for long to create opportunities.
“So even for us this season, our possession stats haven’t bothered me too much because I think we’ve shown we carry a good attacking threat, and we’re a good counter-attacking team.
“If you look historically at teams who have done well in recent times, Leicester City for example, weren’t a possessionbased team.
“So there are various ways to win a football match.
“I think you have to accept that, when you play against top teams in the league, they will probably shade, if not, dominate possession.”