Rangers’ Jak Alnwick is thriving at Scunthorpe United, but does he really have a future in Glasgow?
The Englishman is now Scunthorpe’s first-choice goalkeeper these days. Making 14 appearances this season, Alnwick has finally found the first-team football he never could at Rangers.
The Rangers number three is scheduled to be back at Ibrox in January, after only signing an initial six-month loan deal. So far, despite the fact he’s kept only two clean sheets, he’s made a bunch of stunning stops to keep the opposition out in England’s League One.
This has led to voices of hope regarding him staying at Scunthorpe until the end of the season. With the goalkeeper scheduled to head back to Ibrox in less than two months’ time, this wouldn’t be the worst idea for several reasons.
He’s clearly enjoying his football down in England. It’s the first time Alnwick has had consistent first-team action since arriving at Ibrox in January 2017. Staying down at Scunthorpe would allow him to enjoy the same experience as the likes of Greg Docherty at Shrewsbury Town.
You also have to look at his competition at Ibrox this season. Allan McGregor has been in sensational form and is one of the signings of the season.
His number two is Wes Foderingham, with Alnwick a good bit behind as third-choice goalkeeper. A return to Ibrox at this stage would just see his development stall whilst McGregor and Foderingham rotate on occasion.
Does he therefore have a future?
That opens up a bigger question about whether Alnwick does indeed have any future at Ibrox. The former Port Vale goalkeeper has played on 11 occasions for Gers, but has never been first-choice. He was also part of the Rangers sides that shipped five goals in games against Celtic and Hibernian respectively.
It all could depend on the future of Foderingham also. The Mark Warburton signing was Rangers number one for three years before McGregor signed up. It remains to be seen if he stays at the club as he continues to play second fiddle. Having both him and Alnwick at the club come the start of next season is unlikely.
Alnwick, however, is perhaps one of the unluckiest players to be sent out on loan this season. Whilst he’s playing consistently, it’s tough to impress Gerrard enough to merit being in ahead of Foderingham never-mind McGregor.
Speculation will move into January, as Alnwick gets set to head back to Ibrox. It would be unlikely that Scunthorpe aren’t interested in securing him for a further six months.
For now, however, Alnwick continues to play well. Will it be enough to save his Rangers future? Unlikely.
