JON MCLAUGHLIN has dismissed the criticism directed towards Rangers legend Allan McGregor as he backed the keeper to continue hitting the heights at Ibrox this term.
McGregor came in for sustained flak from sections of supporters last season after a handful of high-profile errors cost his side dear in the Premiership title race.
Both Steven Gerrard and Giovanni van Bronckhorst gave the veteran shot-stopper their full support at various stages of the campaign and he would defy his doubters with a string of key saves on the run to the Europa League final.
And McLaughlin insists his fellow keeper deserved better than some of the comments that were aimed at him during what ultimately didn't prove to be his final term between the sticks.
McLaughlin said: "I think that is part and parcel of football and part and parcel of playing for these sorts of clubs. You are always going to get that.
"Being goalkeepers, we are well used to that. You can have 99 good games but if you have one bad game you get chucked under the bus and it is easy these days for the criticism from outside to come.
"It is so easy now online and that side of things to make throwaway comments and for something to catch and then before you know it there is a media storm around it.
"Again, I don’t think for one second Greegsy was fazed by that knowing the man that he is. And everybody who really knows the club and supports the club knows how valuable he has been and we would never want to say a bad word against him.
"He showed throughout the season that he was still performing at a top, top level, giving his all for the club and still providing massive performances for Rangers."
McLaughlin will look to replace McGregor as Van Bronckhorst's first choice keeper this season as he seeks to finally secure the gloves after two solid terms as a reliable deputy at Ibrox.
The 40-year-old has opted to play on for another campaign as he chose not to retire after the Scottish Cup final and went on to put pen-to-paper on another one-year deal with Rangers.
McLaughlin said: "To be fair, I did think from what we had heard from his own personal feelings that it might be the time that he decides to stop. But I always knew that hunger was still there for him and you could see that.
"There was no way of knowing what way it going to go because he has shown that he can still play at that top level and it will be very difficult to walk away at that stage.
"Sometimes you might feel it is definitely the right time to stop because there is nothing there for you anymore, but that is not the case with Allan.
"I wasn’t surprised when I saw that he had re-signed and you can see in pre-season that the hunger is still there for him."
