Jak Alnwick made his Rangers debut at the weekend.
Jak Alnwick
Jak Alnwick signed off his 2016/17 season by making his long awaited debut for the club.
Alnwick signed for Rangers from Port Vale in January but has had to bide his time waiting behind first choice stopper Wes Foderingham.
He helped his side to a 2-1 away win over St Johnstone, with the Gers ending the league season in third place.
Port Vale’s Jak Alnwick in action with Coventry’s Darius Henderson
Alnwick has experience playing for Newcastle United and told Rangers’ official website that the backing of the Rangers fans brought back memories.
He said: “Port Vale didn’t have those types of away crowds but Newcastle did and it was getting used to it again – I loved every second of it and thought it was a good win.
“Four months is a long time but I thought I settled in fairly quickly and once you get a touch of the ball and get your timing right it sort of falls into place.”
Newcastle’s Jak Alnwick in action with Chelsea’s Diego Costa
He added that he was disappointed not to manage to keep a clean sheet on his debut.
He said: “I am unhappy we conceded a goal, I would have liked a clean sheet but at the end of the day it is about the team and it’s a good way to end the season.”
It is unclear whether new boss Pedro Caixinha saw enough to consider playing Alnwick on a regular basis next season, but the goalkeeper will get further chances to impress in pre-season.
Getting his debut under his belt in a no pressure game will ease his nerves should he need to play when it really counts, and Alnwick’s Newcastle experience will stand him in good stead for the challenges which are to come.
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