Rangers have successfully lured experienced shot-stopper, Allan McGregor, back to the Ibrox Stadium from Hull City. The Tigers had a stuttering season in the Championship which recently concluded (apart from the play-off final which is to be played next Saturday) as they finished 18th in the league standings but McGregor was one of the stand-out performers for the club.
McGregor was regularly used between the sticks by Hull City and in 43 league appearances, he mustered 12 clean sheets and made 2.47 saves per game on an average. Despite the timorous back line he had in front of him, he maintained his calm and composure more often than not and produced some magnificent saves time and again to prevent his side from getting doomed at the end of the season.
In fact, the custodian was named Hull City’s Player of the Year for 2017-18 which is a testament to the notion that he still has the calibre and willingness to contribute to the cause of his employers at a very high level. McGregor is familiar with Rangers, having emerged through the youth ranks of the Gers. Then he went on to represent the senior side of the Glasgow-based outfit for more than a decade.
During his time with the Light Blues, he won three league titles, a hat-trick of Scottish Cups and five League Cups. In the wake of the club’s financial woes, he decided to quit the club in the summer transfer window of 2012. While he was in the books of Rangers, he was shipped out on loan to St. Johnstone and Dunfermline Athletic and thus, he has volumes of experience of Scottish football under his belt.
After a season with Besiktas (during the 2012-13 campaign), he was lured to the ranks of Hull City and he proved to be a reliable goalkeeper for them. Besides, he has also represented the Scottish national side on a regular basis as well. Hull City were eager to tie him down to a new deal but he chose to turn down any extension talks.
Rangers are upbeat and are looking forward to life under the stewardship of their new manager, Steven Gerrard. The Liverpool legend is in pursuit of shaping the club for better and has also signed Scott Arfield from Burnley to strengthen his arsenal. McGregor’s experience and undeniable calibre is certainly going to help Gerrard’s side next season and will offer him another option for catering to his side’s goalkeeping needs.
Statistics Credits: WhoScored
