Fit and fresh Allan McGregor out to hold firm grip on Rangers’ No.1 position

[Ace 3,556]

Allan McGregor is hopeful that a summer spent in intensive training can lay the foundations for his best season yet.

The Rangers shot-stopper has looked in fine form since the start of pre-season, and he performed well for Scotland on his return to the international stage against Sweden despite Craig Levein’s side going down 3-0.

Only a penalty kick award denied him a clean sheet at home to Kilmarnock at the weekend as Walter Smith’s men started the defence of their SPL title with a 2-1 victory, and McGregor is determined to turn on the style throughout the campaign.

A knee injury towards the end of last season – which ruled him out of action as the Ibrox club celebrated winning the title – forced him to undergo additional gym work over the summer to return to tip-top condition.

And McGregor is hoping those workouts help him remain at the peak of his powers this term.

“The summer has been quite hard,” explained McGregor. “I did some stuff myself when I was on holiday after hurting my knee.

“The injury could have been a lot worse than it was and, at the time, I thought it was a bad one. Thankfully, the specialists and physios here were able to get me back on track pretty quickly. They said it would be fine and that’s the way it has worked out.

“I started my rehabilitation four or five weeks after it happened so I had to start training a bit earlier than everyone else.

“That helped make sure I was ready for pre-season and we had quite a long sequence of warm-up games so it was great just to get underway again last weekend.

“I didn’t get playing as much golf as I would have liked when I was off, but the biggest thing was obviously getting back to full fitness.

“I was in the gym a lot from the start of June – a couple of hours each day – so I still got plenty of time off but hopefully that extra work helps me now.

“I’m not sure if it will give me a head start on others or not. I just wanted to make sure my knee was as strong as it could be for the start of pre-season.

“But if the stuff I did over the summer helps that would be great as it’s another important season ahead and we want as few injuries as possible.”

After a 17-month absence from the international arena, McGregor pulled on a Scotland jersey again last week when he played in the defeat in Stock-holm. Despite picking the ball out of the back of the net on three separate occasions, the Gers keeper was happy to be back playing at that level.

He said in today’s Rangers News: “I was obviously disappointed with the result in Sweden, but I was happy to be back in the team and playing for my country again.

“It was great that Craig Levein wanted me back. Everything that’s happened in the past is dead and buried now and I’m just pleased to be part of it all once again.

“I’m looking forward to the start of the qualifying campaign. I don’t know if Craig Gordon will miss the second pair of games in October but hopefully there is an oppor-tunity for me to play.

“I’m not bothered about me though – I just hope the team does well and we win both games. If I can play a part in that, I’d be glad to.”

McGregor’s priority for now is to help Rangers take all three points against Hibs at Easter Road on Sunday.

“It’s always hard going to Easter Road,” said McGregor. “And it will be a tough game for us after they got a good result at Motherwell on Sunday.

“They’ll be pushing to get further up the league this year after they had a disappointing end to last season.”

He added: “They didn’t do too well after February after they had a really good start to the championship and were pushing us hard just past Christmas.

“I’m sure they’ll want to build on what they did in the first few months of last season and they’ll want to continue past the point where they began to slow down.

“They’ll be difficult opponents for us, although we do have a decent record against them and we’ve won a couple of titles at Easter Road in recent years.

“Each day was brilliant. They were two totally different occasions, both because of different circumstances and because I was on the bench one time and playing last season.

“I will never forget Helicopter Sunday, and being in the team when we became champions again last April was amazing.

“I don’t think too much about what happened previously at Easter Road when I go back there. If you are playing, you are focused on the present.

“But it has certainly been a good place for us and thinking about it now makes the hairs on the back of my neck stand up.

“We want to be successful again this season and it’s games such as these ones this weekend that we need to win if we’re to do that.”

http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/sport/editor-s-picks/fit-and-fresh-allan-mcgregor-out-to-hold-firm-grip-on-rangers-no-1-position-1.1049030

[Ace 3,556]

Not Marathon .... Snickers

[simplythebestest 2,148]

Not Marathon .... Snickers

Is the title of this thread sexual innuendo?

[cooper1989 0]

Top class 'Keeper. Best British Keeper right now.

Said last year.. save the impossible.

Remember the saves vs Samaras (?) last year? The one where he tipped it over the bar with his left hand? Thought for certain that was going in.

Amazing.

That's the difference between him and Neil.

Of course.. Bremen. Unbelievable how the EPL has not come in for him with a massive figure.

[flecky1 4]

good keeper

[flecky1 4]

you disagree?

[Muz333 361]

I didn't put Mcshagger down as a golf person. Glad to hear he's back to tip top shape though!

[3rfc2 3]

aye greegsy likes to play golf Lee McCulloch says he's good

[mmrfc1873 48]

Immense keeper.

[warden90 0]

aye greegsy likes to play golf Lee McCulloch says he's good

Stalker.

[M-89 532]

I didn't put Mcshagger down as a golf person. Glad to hear he's back to tip top shape though!

balls, holes, swinging wood, "threesomes" and "foursomes"... i'm surprised he's not in the ryder cup team!

[flecky1 4]

No I put the sherlock thing on because you have realised this

My way of saying I think him being a great goalkeeper is a given haha

[Muz333 361]

balls, holes, swinging wood, "threesomes" and "foursomes"... i'm surprised he's not in the ryder cup team!

Haha, you just made my day!

[sdunsmb 43]

Not sure shagging 100 hundreds of birds counts as intense practice but fair enough anyway

[Chef 436]

a poor clubs joe hart

[3rfc2 3]

a poor clubs joe hart

could be true

but for sure you'll still get the minority of rangers fans who would get rid and say alexanders better not a time goes by without that happening i for one would rather lose alexander than greegsy.

[skinnymate1690 666]

his save against bremen

[simplythebest 11,453]

Still think there's aspects of his game he can improve on, brilliant shot stopper though.

Hopefully the League Cup will be made Alexander's competition again, been as terrific goalkeeper for us when he's come in and should always be considered if McGregor isn't performing.