GIOVANNI VAN BRONCKHORST insists he offered Allan McGregor no assurances over his Ibrox position before he agreed to extend his Rangers contract for another season.
The 40-year-old opted not to hang up his gloves in the aftermath of the Europa League and Scottish Cup finals last term and subsequently penned a new one-year deal this summer.
McGregor now faces a tougher fight for his jersey, though, as Jon McLaughlin continues to stake his claim to be the first name on the team-sheet ahead of the new campaign.
McLaughlin was given the nod to start against Sunderland on Saturday night as a power cut at the Estádio Municipal de Albufeira denied McGregor the chance to get his first minutes under his belt this term.
Van Bronckhorst now has just a couple of weeks to make his keeper call but no promises have been made towards McGregor as the Ibrox legend gears up for another shot at glory at home and abroad.
Van Bronckhorst said: "I mean the decision has to be made, not just for the goalkeeper position but also for the other positions in this team.
"Allan is at an age where he has the most experience in this team, he has been an important player and still is an important player to the squad.
"I am also very happy about Jon, you wouldn’t say he is becoming 34. He is doing well as well, he did really well in the cup competitions, and they are pushing each other as well to be the first goalkeeper this year.
"I am really happy about the competition but of course finally you have to make your decision.
"No I would never do that (make any promises to players). I would never do that. I cannot guarantee any starting positions to any players.
"Of course you have experienced players and young players. I think it is a process that is natural in any team sport and eventually we are one team. We need the whole squad, as we have seen last year."
