Allan McGregor returned to Ibrox from Championship Hull City and has a big job to do at Scottish Premiership giants Rangers
With the arrival of Jon Flanagan on a free transfer, Rangers can field almost an entirely new defence when the 2018/19 season kicks off.
Flanagan joins after being released from Liverpool and follows potential new centre-back pairing Connor Goldson and Nikola Katic to Ibrox. Declan John, the 22-year-old who joined from Cardiff last August, could soon be the only non-new signing in Rangers’ back four.
And there are two ways to look at this. One, Steven Gerrard and Mark Allen deserve great credit for strengthening a leaky defence. On the other hand, however, it could take some time for these new players to gel together.
Therefore, the addition of another summer signing looks more important than ever.
Allan McGregor sealed an emotional return to Glasgow from Hull City earlier in the window, the 36-year-old having left Humberside upon the expiry of his contract.
And the veteran goalkeeper not only provides sharp reflexes but leadership on and off the pitch and the experience of playing a major role in a relentless winning machine.
Already, McGregor’s importance looks bigger than ever considering that he will have a new, unfamiliar defence in front of him. There are few better men to organise his backline than the former Scotland international though, who should whip Katic, Flanagan and co into shape very quickly.
Rangers need organisation and leadership at the back. And McGregor is the man to provide exactly that, even during what could be a nervy first few weeks with his fellow new arrivals needing time to find their feet.
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