Competition for places is something every club with title ambitions needs. And Rangers are certainly no different.
Following a host of summer arrivals, Philippe Clement suddenly finds himself with a selection headache when it comes to a number of areas on the pitch.
Nicolas Raskin or Connor Barron? Ridvan Yilmaz or Jefte? Robin Propper or Ben Davies?
Though when it comes to the man between the sticks, the decision really makes itself. Jack Butland remains the first name on Rangers’ team sheet. And long will it stay that way barring any unexpected drop in form from the ever-consistent shot-stopper and the club’s Player of the Year.
At the age of 31, Butland’s reflexes remain as sharp as ever. That became apparent as he sprung to his left and pulled off a ‘world-class’ save – to quote Motherwell boss Stuart Kettlewell – late on during Saturday’s 2-1 triumph at Hampden Park.
Liam Kelly would have been impressed.
Watching on from the sidelines as Rangers edged to a victory over his old employers, the former Motherwell captain is playing the back-up role behind Butland these days.
Robby McCrorie leaves Rangers for Kilmarnock
The Gers brought academy graduate Kelly back to familiar surroundings after Robby McCrorie opted to join Kilmarnock in pursuit of the kind of regular first-team football he would simply not receive as long as Butland is marshalling the royal blue net.
McCrorie featured only once in the 2023/24 season.
But having spent the year training alongside McCrorie at Auchenhowie, Butland has no doubts that the quality and the mentality of Kilmarnock’s new number one will take him far in the game.
“If you know Robby McCrorie, you know what an intense guy he was,” Butland tells Rangers’ official YouTube channel in his pre-Dynamo press conference.
“I loved training with Robbie. He was brilliant and I am glad he’s got his opportunity to go and play.”
Tellingly, McCrorie has already made more appearances in 2024/25 than he did in the whole of the previous campaign.
The 26-year-old – who was informed by Scotland boss Steve Clarke that he would have to move in order to force his way into the national team picture – has played every single minute of Killie’s five games in all competitions.
Then again, still awaiting their first win and losing 4-0 and 3-0 to Celtic and St Johnstone, this has not exactly been a flying start at Rugby Park for McCrorie.
Butland hails Liam Kelly arrival
Kilmarnock will face Tromso in the second leg of their Conference League qualifier on Thursday after a 2-2 draw in Norway. Rangers, meanwhile, host Dynamo Kiev in their own European tie with a place in the Champions League group-stages on the line.
Butland had little to do in the first leg – protected excellently by a hard-running Connor Barron and Mohamed Diomande midfield – and will be hoping for another quiet evening on Tuesday.
Kelly, meanwhile, will be on the bench again.
“Liam is a man of great experience,” Butland says of his fellow glovesman. “(Kelly) knows the club inside out and is a great character to have around.
“He offers something different and he will be valuable to us as well.”
