Rangers goalkeeper Jak Alnwick has been praised by Steve Harper.
Former Newcastle United goalkeeper Steve Harper has told The Scottish Sun that he thins Rangers’ new signing Jak Alnwick is ‘fast and brave’, and will handle the pressure at Ibrox.
Rangers swooped to land two new signings early in January as Jon Toral and Emerson Hyndman arrived on loan from Arsenal and Bournemouth respectively, but just a day before the transfer deadline, manager Mark Warburton landed one more addition to his squad.
With Matt Gilks heading back to England with Wigan Athletic, Warburton needed another goalkeeper to offer competition for first-choice stopper Wes Foderingham, and he snapped up Jak Alnwick from Port Vale.
Jak Alnwick in action for Port Vale
Alnwick, 23, was on the books at Newcastle United for seven years before being released in 2005, and he dropped into League One to become Port Vale’s first-choice goalkeeper.
Rangers new boy Jak Alnwick reacts on Twitter after completing £250,000 move to Ibrox
The shot-stopper impressed in his 18-month spell at Vale Park, and has now moved up to Ibrox in order to replace Gilks, becoming Foderingham’s backup having been on the bench twice so far.
Steve Harper at Newcastle United
It’s unclear just when Alnwick will make his debut for the club, but Rangers fans should be excited about their new signing after former Newcastle goalkeeper Steve Harper has raved about Alnwick.
Speaking to The Scottish Sun, Harper has suggested that Alnwick has proven his nerve for the big stage having made his Premier League debut for Newcastle United against Chelsea in December 2014.
Harper added that he has been impressed with Alnwick for some time having worked with him at Newcastle, praising his attitude and his ability to cope under pressure, whilst claiming he is ‘fast and brave’ as a goalkeeper.
“When I left Newcastle, Jak ended up being third-choice behind Tim Krul and Rob Elliott, and then he was thrust into the spotlight as they both had their injury problems,” said Harper. “He had been on the bench quite a lot, and if you are in the squad often enough, your chance will come.”
“Jak showed he had the nerve for the big stage, and that’s bound to stand him in good stead for Ibrox. His attitude was always top class, and he stayed positive because he’d have known you are learning in the harshest possible environments, and Jak did a pretty good job. I did plenty of work with Jak at Newcastle because he used to train with us a lot.
“I was always very impressed with his overall play, he is fast and brave. Knowing him from Newcastle I’m sure he can handle everything that gets thrown at him at Rangers,” he added.
Do you think Alnwick is a good signing for Rangers?
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
