Michael Beale has hailed Jon McLaughlin's Rangers record per game with wins and clean sheets as 'outstanding'.
The Light Blues boss decided to hand the gloves to the former Hearts man for the victory over Dundee United at Tannadice on Sunday. The Ibrox gaffer believes it is important to show the 35-year-old he is wanted and loved at the club as he hit out at the 'narrative' surrounding the Ibrox stopper this year as a 'poor one'
Giovanni van Bronckhorst started the season with McLaughlin as his No1 before reversing his decision and returning to veteran Allan McGregor - who had been his No1 in the previous campaign that ended in a Scottish Cup win and Europa League Final appearance. But Beale has explained in depth his reason behind the goalkeeping change at the weekend. A Hampden semi-final looms with Aberdeen and another decision to be made between the sticks.
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Beale said: "Jon has kept another clean sheet and I am delighted for him personally as well. I thought it might be a game with a lot of set-plays and that didn’t really pan out. Jon excels in that.
“I knew I was changing one or two other things in the team as well, so Jon gives us that extra little bit of height in terms of coming to claim it. Also, I feel this year the narrative around Jon is a poor one.
“In my time at the club previously, and since I’ve been back, Jon’s record per game with wins and clean sheets is outstanding.
“He made quite a high-profile mistake but I don’t think we should condemn him. It’s important I keep Jon focused and feeling like he is wanted and loved around here, because he is.
“Will I use Allan and Jon this season? If I think it’s right, yes. It’s nothing against Allan. He came out a few weeks ago at Ross County for Jon to go in. I just had a hunch that I wanted Jon to play this game.
“We’ve played it, we’ve won and hopefully now some of the fuss can go away. We win with Allan and we win with Jon, so that’s a good sign.”
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