EXCLUSIVE

ALLAN MCGREGOR has always been an inspiration for Robby McCrorie. Now, though, he has an influence over the kid keeper.

The task of overhauling McGregor in the Ibrox pecking order is a seemingly impossible one for McCrorie right now. But his time working with the Light Blues’ shot-stopper may well give him the chance to succeed his mentor between the sticks in the future.

The return of McGregor in the summer has proven to be a shrewd piece of business by Rangers and the 36-year-old has already justified the decision to bring him back north of the Border.

At home and abroad, he has become an integral part of Steven Gerrard’s plans.

In terms of consistency, he is arguably Rangers’ top performer so far this term and he has raised the bar both on and off the park. He is back in blue, and back in the groove.

For McCrorie, the chance to watch the Scotland keeper at close quarters has been a dream and he finds himself very much involved in the Ibrox first team these days.

He is behind McGregor and Wes Foderingham in Gerrard’s thoughts at present but the improvements he is making week by week could enable him to challenge for the gloves one day.

“Allan has been a massive influence on me,” McCrorie told SportTimes. “In his first spell at Rangers, I trained with him a little bit and then he moved on and did really well.

“I always kept track of him because he is someone that I have always looked up to since I was a kid.

“He has been brand new with me since I came in and he is easy to go and speak to and ask about things in terms of what he has experienced.

“It is great being able to learn from someone like him and it can only help me in the long run.

“I think he was 24 when he first made a real breakthrough and for people that might seem quite old. But, from a goalkeeper’s perspective, that is about right,