The clock is ticking on Rangers’ return to pre-season however there may be nonetheless an enormous query mark over the goalkeeping place.
However it's set to turn out to be a bit bit clearer with Allan McGregor set to commit to a different yr at Ibrox like fellow veterans Steven Davis and Scott Arfield.
It will likely be his sixteenth yr on the membership, over two spells, however will it's as first alternative or behind Jon McLaughlin?
And what occurs to Manchester United-linked Robby McCrorie in all of this? Will the Scotland squad keeper now have to maneuver on to get the sport time he craves?
Bu for McGregor the uncertainty has shades of the summer season of 2009 when he confronted arguably his largest pre-season battle for the No. 1 spot.
Neil Alexander had completed the earlier season between the sticks and helped Walter Smith’s facet to a league and cup double.
It was a case of de ja vu for Alexander who discovered himself because the No. 1 a yr earlier as he helped Gers to the UEFA Cup remaining after being thrust in for the run-in.
However each conditions arose in fairly completely different circumstances. In 2008 it was merely all the way down to an damage for McGregor.
The next yr it got here on account of McGregor’s half within the notorious ‘Boozegate’ when he was advised he may by no means play for the membership once more.
The 2009 pre-season was hyped as an actual glove battle with many believing Alexander can be the person who would begin the marketing campaign.
Smith gave them a half every within the first pleasant that summer season in opposition to Nuremberg in Germany and there was no actual membership who would get the shirt.
And it wasn’t till the workforce was named for the opening recreation of the 2009/10 season with McGregor beginning a 4-1 win over Falkirk at Ibrox that it was clear who had gained the battle.
Smith stated on the time: “Neil will take it badly and if I used to be him I'd take it badly as nicely. In some ways it is unfair on Alexander as a result of he has performed exceptionally nicely for us.
"Each keepers know that if they've the jersey they need to present kind to maintain it.”
Relying on Van Bronckhorst’s ideas on the goalkeeping state of affairs, McGregor might discover himself in an analogous state of affairs 13 years on from that summer season.
Rangers solely need to look throughout the town for a reminder of how essential the goalkeeping place is and the way followers who consider McGregor’s less than the job of being Gers No. 1 needs to be cautious what they need for.
It was two summers in the past when Celtic had been badly caught out after Craig Gordon left the membership, sad with the contract provide on the desk.
When Fraser Forster didn't return to Parkhead, the Hoops signed Vasilis Barkas however the Greek proved a vastly costly mistake.
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Barkas has solely simply briefly ended his nightmare within the east finish of Glasgow by not too long ago transferring to Dutch facet Utrecht on mortgage.
He failed to chop it at Celtic after which boss Neil Lennon was compelled to strive Scott Bain and Conor Hazard at varied factors in a catastrophic marketing campaign.
McGregor was first alternative throughout a run that took them to the Europa League Closing in Seville.
Admittedly, he was at fault on events throughout a stuttering league marketing campaign however does McLaughlin possess the standard to be the Rangers No. 1?
So many questions with only a week to go till pre-season.