Rangers keeper Jon McLaughlin is likely to make his first appearance of 2021 in Sunday’s Scottish Cup Third Round tie against Cove Rangers.
McLaughlin has had a frustrating time for club and country in recent months despite an impressive spell in the team at the beginning of the season.
The 33-year-old kept six consecutive Premiership clean sheets but was dropped after conceding twice at Easter Road in September.
Since then, he’s only made four appearances, the most recent of which came in a Europa League group stage clash at Lech Poznan in December.
The ex-Hearts and Sunderland star had no joy on international duty with Scotland recently, either, watching on from the bench as David Marshall started the first two World Cup Qualifiers and Craig Gordon the third.
Sunday’s Scottish Cup clash against Cove Rangers should finally bring his long wait for an outing to an end, though.
With 55 already secured, the Cup is now the priority for Steven Gerrard [Glasgow Times], but there’s no reason not to trust McLaughlin based on his performances so far in Light Blue, particularly given that the opposition are a League One side.
If he is given a chance, like he was the last time the Gers faced lower-league opposition in a trip to Falkirk in the League Cup in November, few would bet against him keeping an eleventh clean sheet in his twelfth Rangers outing.
McLaughlin may not be the only fringe player to feature in the game at Ibrox, with an exciting attacker looking for his first-ever Gers start.
