McCrorie fired by glov
RANGERS Young keeper honing skills courtesy of show-stopper McGregor in bid to realise dream of first-team spot
especially when you are at a massive club like Rangers.
“I do think the loan moves helped him massively and he has said that to me. It would be great for me to follow in his footsteps.
“Now I train with him every day and I am getting to know him a lot better. The first thing I noticed was his winning mentality. You can see that on the pitch.
“But, even in the background, if we are playing small games you need that. That is what it is all about and it is great being around him.”
When boss Gerrard took his squad to Spain for their pre-season preparations in the summer, he was keen to ensure McCrorie was involved as a first-team player.
He may have had McGregor, Foderingham and Jak Alnwick for company but he had earned a place in the squad and had a role to fulfil.
Alnwick’s departure on loan to Scunthorpe United has moved the 20-year-old up a spot and he was on the bench for the Betfred Cup tie with Ayr United this month.
His time in League Two with Berwick Rangers gave McCrorie a new experience. He may not have played firstteam football this term, but the lessons learned are still invaluable.
McCrorie said: “We have obviously got very good keepers at Rangers. Greegsy has been excellent and Wes, when he has been called upon, has been excellent as well.
“For me, I am still young and I can only learn from keepers like that. Greegsy has got loads of experience and Wes has been here for a few years and done really well.
“So I can take tips from both of them and it is a bonus to have the manager’s backing as well.
“Last season I was out on loan and I felt that I learned a lot from the experience. This year, I probably did think I was going out again but I was still openminded and I just had to do my best when I came in for pre-season.
“I seem to have done well and impressed the manager and he pulled me in and said he wanted me at Rangers. That is something I want to be a part of because it is a great squad we have got just now and hopefully I can keep progressing.”
The breakthrough moment at Rangers has still to arrive for McCrorie but he has been able to make a name for himself on the international stage.
He was part of the Scotland Under-21 side that beat the Netherlands last month to keep alive their hopes of reaching the European Championship finals.
Now, Scot Gemmill’s side have a chance to finish the job as they target two wins against Ukraine and England in the final Group 4 outings.
McCrorie may not have joined up with the squad with match minutes under his belt, but he has brought with him the feel-good factor from life at Ibrox.
“It has been really good for me so far this season and I am happy with how things have gone,” he said.
“It helps with the people that have come into the club in terms of the whole coaching staff and the manager.
“His name obviously stands for itself but the coaches have brought something for every player and I think every player feels that they are developing. I feel that I am developing as well.
“It is great to be a part of it and there is a buzz around the place. I think you can feel that, especially when we have got some big results, and long may that continue.
“For any young player to be involved in things like that, and what could possibly happen, can only help.
“I am looking further down the line and want to be more involved in things like that. I will try to pick up as much as I can along the way.”