Holt looking for keepers to take
It to the Max
Gary Holt is delighted to have an unhappy player in his ranks for the trip to Ibrox.
The Livingston manager will have Max Stryjek in goal because Scotland squad keeper, Robby Mccrorie, is unable to play against his parent club.
The 24-year-old Stryjek made his league debut in the goal-less draw against Rangers at the Tony Macaroni Arena in August, and is the only goalie in Europe that Steven Gerrard’s men have failed to beat this season.
Holt expects the big Pole to again rise to the occasion.
He said: “Max is desperate to play, and he’s probably frustrated and cheesed off that he hasn’t played – which is exactly what you want.
“I want two No. 1s fighting it out. I don’t want a comfortable No. 2 who is quite happy to get the odd cup game.
“Max wants to play first-team football every week. Now he’ll get another chance.
“He did himself no harm in the first game against Rangers and in two League Cup games where he was excellent.
“This will be a little more out of his comfort zone, as it’s away from home, but we’ll see how he stands up to the challenge. “Knowing Max, it won’t faze him. “He just wants to play football, and it doesn’t matter whether it’s a public park or Ibrox.”
Mccrorie would have wanted a chance to prove his worth after blundering in Livingston’s defeat by Kilmarnock last weekend.
Holt added: “Being a goalkeeper is a lonely place.
“Any mistake from a goalie is highlighted, showcased and everyone talks about it.
“Unfortunately for Robby, he made a mistake for the third goal. There’s no point pretending it didn’t happen. He knows it was a mistake.
“But I make mistakes every day, and I learn from them.”
Like so many football people, Holt is missing playing in front of fans.
He said: “We went to Celtic Park earlier this season, and it was rubbish.
“It was a great game, we lost 3-2, but no one was there to enjoy it.
“It was a surreal feeling being somewhere so big that was empty.
“Hopefully, this game will be exciting – but won’t have the same score.”