Scotland boss Steve Clarke is keen to see Robby McCrorie play first-team football on a more regular basis with the Rangers goalkeeper stuck behind Jack Butland at Ibrox.
And, with Butland ahead of him in the pecking order, Rangers’ number two could be forgiven for feeling like Matthew McConaughey did when he auditioned for the role of Titanic in the 1990s. There is no shame in losing out to a talent like Leonardo di Caprio, but it doesn’t make things any less frustrating.
Robby McCrorie impressed when handed a string of games under Mick Beale last term. Since the outstanding Butland arrived at Ibrox, however, the 25-year-old has been forced to accept a life on the sidelines. While an almost ever-present in the matchday squad, McCrorie has not made a single appearance so far in 2023/24.
Robby McCrorie has a Rangers decision to make
McCrorie was still included in Clarke’s Scotland squad for the November international. Unlike, say, Borna Barisic with Croatia. Break but it almost goes without saying that his hopes of nailing down a starting spot for Euro 2024 are not being helped by his continued thumb-twiddling at club level, with Clarke’s comments likely to pose plenty of food for thought ahead of the January window.
McCrorie would likely be, after all, the go-to number one for most clubs in Scotland, and a fair few south of the border too. If he wants to escape Butland’s shadow, then there will be plenty of opportunities for him to do just that.
“It’s a difficult one for me to get involved in, as his club decides if he plays week in, week out or whether he goes on loan,” Clarke says, via Glasgow World. “But it’s in the conversation. And I have spoken to Robby a couple of times.
“I keep saying that he is one we have an eye on for the future. But he needs to play matches. Hopefully he starts to get a few more games.”
A loan move away from Ibrox ‘would be good’
“He is a good, technical keeper. He has strong hands and good feet. Robby saves the ball, which is pretty important for a keeper. The thing you don’t know about him, and what he’ll have to show when he gets a chance to play, is his decision making on the pitch.
“If he can get some games at Rangers, then great. If they decide to let him go on loan, that would also be good.”
McCrorie faces competition from Hearts’ Zander Clarke and Motherwell’s former Rangers ‘keeper Liam Kelly for a starting spot under Clarke.
