Gerrard eager for McGregor to stick around

STEVEN GERRARD wants to keep Allan McGregor as part of his Rangers set-up beyond the end of this season.

The veteran goalkeeper made a clutch of outstanding saves when restored to the starting line-up for Thursday night’s 4-0 Europa League win over Willem II in Holland.

McGregor’s current contract expires next summer — when he will be 39 — and Gerrard admits a decision about playing on will be down to the former Scotland man.

The Ibrox boss is happy to leave those discussions for the months ahead, but is clear about a wish to retain McGregor’s experience in some capacity.

Asked about the possibility of a new deal, Gerrard said: ‘Listen, it is too early to discuss all of that. He has just recently signed a new extension, he is here for the season.

‘We are all aware of his age but he is still rated and loved as much as he was when he was younger.

‘We will take it month by month. If he is still in the same shape and he is stillproducing the same performances at the time we need to discuss it, that will be a decision for Allan McGregor.

‘But one thing is for sure, we will certainly want to keep him around the football club.’

McGregor suffered earlyseason injury setbacks that saw him replaced by Jon McLaughlin in the starting line-up. Ex-Hearts keeper

McLaughlin kept a string of clean sheets before conceding his first Premiership goals of the season in last Sunday’s 2-2 draw against Hibs. Gerrard admitted he thought long and hard about recalling McGregor (below) in Holland, but always retained faith in his evergreen qualities. ‘He’s had a bit of a disrupted pre-season with injuries and pains but I saw signs in training this week that he was looking close to his best,’ said the Ibrox boss. ‘It was still a big call to put him in. But with the experience he has got, and with the journeys we have been on in Europe over the last two years, I did have a good feeling and I was confident. ‘Allan has still got to go and make those saves and do them at key times for us and that is the reason why he is held in such high regard inside this football club. ‘The biggest compliment I can give is that I’m trying to think over a 20-year career, and I can’t remember when a keeper got man of the match in a 4-0 win. So that tells you the story, really. ‘But that is Greegs. It’s as if it hadn’t happened. He gets showered, he goes home and he gets ready to do it again if called upon.’