Former St. Johnstone boss John Connolly has admitted it was “obvious right from the start” that Rangers keeper Allan McGregor was destined for the top after a stint on loan with the Perth side early in his career.
McGregor spent part of 2004 at McDiarmid Park as he looked to get regular games under his belt with Ronald Wattereus and Stefan Klos in his way at Ibrox.
Connolly isn’t surprised to see McGregor continuing to impress late into his thirties and touted his stunning stop against Slavia Prague as one of the best of the season.
With the veteran putting pen to paper on another year-long contract at Ibrox to keep him with Rangers until beyond his 40th birthday, McGregor could still add more silverware to an already glittering career and Connolly remembered how he looked like a Rangers number one even then.
“I was casting around for a keeper when I took the Saints job, and Alex McLeish was looking to give Allan McGregor regular first-team football,” Connolly told the Scottish Sun.
“Stefan Klos was his No 1 and later the Dutchman Ronald Waterreus came in.
“It was obvious right from the start McGregor had all the qualities required to make it at the top level.
“He had a presence about him even then — and he’d already had some game time under his belt at Rangers.
“I was looking for a keeper with a bit of height who would dominate his box.
“McGregor had everything in the mix as a shotstopper, mobility and coming for crosses.
“He has always been very agile and you still see that in his performances this season.
“Look at the saves he made against Celtic last weekend, and not just one from the Odsonne Edouard penalty.
“He had three or four tremendous saves to keep another clean sheet in the 2-0 win.
“That last-minute save against Slavia Prague must rate as the best of the season.
“I’m actually not surprised he is still going strong. McGregor has obviously looked after himself over the years.
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