The 23-year-old is reportedly set to join Rangers from Port Vale after failing to make the grade at Newcastle United.
Jak Alnwick’s Newcastle United career may have been over after just eight appearances between the sticks but, between the fumbles that had fans writing him off, he displayed the odd flash of brilliance. Nonetheless, that did not stop him tumbling down the tiers, ending up at League One Port Vale.
However, the Scottish Sun reports that Rangers are set to complete a £250,000 deal to bring the 23-year-old to Ibrox in the final days of the January transfer window, offering Alnwick another chance to stake his claim at one of Britain’s most illustrious, expectant clubs.
Unfortunately, his short Newcastle career was tainted irreparably by a horror spill in the League Cup quarter-final against Tottenham, setting The Magpies on their way to a 4-0 thrashing, but his prospects looked a lot more positive after a startling debut against, of all teams, Jose Mourinho’s steamrollering Chelsea.
Replacing the injured Rob Elliot at half-time, Alnwick pulled off a string of fine saves to send St James’ into raptures and preserve a 2-1 lead.
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And his then manager Alan Pardew hardly held back in his praise after a famous victory inspired, in Hollywood style, by an unknown rookie goalkeeper.
“He was great. It’s very unusual for the third choice goalie to have the kind of aura that he was giving out. He was calm. For me, on the sidelines, that gave me reassurance because I like my goalies to be calm,” Pardew said in quotes reported by the Daily Mail.
“He came to see me before Tim [Krul] got injured and said he was really disappointed with my management and felt that the club had let him down because we hadn’t loaned him out and his contract was up at the end of the year.
“He felt he hadn’t really been given an opportunity and he’s been proven right. Fair play to him.”
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An understudy goalkeeper brought in from Port Vale may not be the most inspiring mid-season signing but Alnwick will be desperate to make this second chance count.
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