The Gers beat St. Johnstone in a thriller on Wednesday night.
Rangers caretaker manager Graeme Murty has told the club’s official website that Barrie McKay’s unsung defensive work illustrates just how important a player he is to the club.
McKay opened the scoring in Wednesday night’s thrilling 3-2 win over St. Johnstone, drilling home his fourth goal of the season from the edge of the box.
The 22-year-old has shown on occasion both this season and last that he has the talent to produce a moment of magic from nowhere in the attacking third.
However, his caretaker boss Murty believes that it is the unheralded dirty work that McKay does defensively that really sets him apart from many other players.
Murty told the club’s website: “I’ve just shown Barrie McKay some of his clips of beating people for fun, and then his goal. I actually highlighted a clip of Barrie working back 70 yards to go and put a tackle in as that isn’t a side of his game he is renowned for, but it is something that is coming into his game as he is still a young man.
“I’ve told the players Barrie needs praise when he does that type of thing, as everyone likes positive affirmation when you actually do something that enhances the team.
“We all know Barrie is a fantastic dribbler, but highlighting that in a video and showing that is what the team needs at that time, is a really good way to show that you are adding value to the team.”
Though McKay’s opener and Martyn Waghorn’s strike just after half-time put the Gers in control, they were pegged back to 2-2 by St. Johnstone thanks to two goals in the final 16 minutes of normal time.
However, Emerson Hyndman struck in the first minute of injury time to seal a 13th Scottish Premiership win of the season and keep Murty’s side firmly in the top three.
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