Allan McGregor and his Rangers summer of uncertainty part 2 as fresh glove battle looms 13 years on

The clock is ticking on Rangers’ return to pre-season but there is still a huge question mark over the goalkeeping position.

For a start, it’s unclear whether Allan McGregor will commit to another year at Ibrox like fellow veterans Steven Davis and Scott Arfield.

If the 40-year-old does opt to stick around for a 16th year at the club, over two spells, then will it be as first choice or behind Jon McLaughlin?

Should McGregor decide to hang up those big gloves with that Scottish Cup final cameo proving to be the farewell many thought at the time then will Giovanni van Bronckhorst look for another No. 1 or does McLaughlin start the campaign between the sticks?

And what happens to Manchester United-linked Robby McCrorie in all of this? Does he move up to be back-up to McLaughlin or will the Scotland squad keeper find himself having to move on to get the game time he craves?

The uncertainty has shades of the summer of 2009 when McGregor faced arguably his biggest pre-season battle for the No. 1 spot.

Neil Alexander had finished the previous season between the sticks and helped Walter Smith’s side to a league and cup double.

It was a case of de ja vu for Alexander who found himself as the No. 1 a year earlier as he helped Gers to the UEFA Cup final after being thrust in for the run-in.

But both situations arose in quite different circumstances. In 2008 it was simply down to an injury for McGregor.

The following year it came due to McGregor’s part in the infamous ‘Boozegate’ when he was told he might never play for the club again.

The 2009 pre-season was hyped as a real glove battle with many believing Alexander would be the man who would start the campaign.

Smith gave them a half each in the first friendly that summer