interview In Allan McGregor, Craig Levein has found a man who does not fit his off-field reputation, writes Michael Grant
It begins with the line “he dives to the left, he dives to the right” and then rhymes “burdz” and “night” in a frankly breathtaking -- if unprintable -- claim about his stamina.
McGregor and the rest of the celebrating Rangers players stood in front of an end packed with their supporters at Rugby Park on Sunday as thousands of them belted the tune out at him. He didn’t actually sway to the left and right with his arms outstretched as the fans did, but the smile on his face couldn’t have been broader.
It would be putting it mildly to say McGregor has an image as a ladies’ man, generated by numerous tabloid news stories. Perhaps there have been some within football who have felt his social life was to the detriment of his focus and concentration on his game. When Craig Levein, the Scotland manager, talked about McGregor yesterday it was as if he had heard and read about one individual and then discovered an entirely different one when they actually met.
Levein could not have been more fulsome in his praise of the goalkeeper he has picked in seven of his nine games in charge. “You form an impression of people when you don’t know them. Everybody does that. I’d never worked with Alan before and you form an impression of what you see and what people’s perceptions are. From the moment I met him -- I went down to Murray Park to speak to him about this ‘Boozegate’ stuff and all the rest of it -- he was desperate to get back involved with the squad.”
“Boozegate” was the episode which cost McGregor 17 months of his Scotland career after he and former Rangers team-mate Barry Ferguson drank heavily while on international duty and then made v-sign gestures to photographers at Hampden. The pair were told they would no longer be picked for their country. But when Levein succeeded George Burley he was willing to forgive.
Levein arranged a meeting and found a player genuinely remorseful and desperate to return. Since then the injury problems affecting Craig Gordon have seen McGregor take over as the first choice goalkeeper. “He has been a delight to deal with,” said Levein. “His training is fantastic and his attitude has been great. You have to remember as well that he is maturing. He’s now at an age where I think he understands that football is everything for him. He has attained a certain level and he should now be concentrating on maintaining or improving on that for as long as he can. I think he has got a new-found maturity.
“When I looked at Allan from the outside I didn’t understand him because I didn’t know him. Since I’ve been involved in the squad, he’s been an absolute diamond. Allan deserves all of the recognition for his performances this year and I think him getting into the international squad has been good for him and good for Rangers. He’s been great for Scotland and he’s been great for Craig Gordon. I’m sure that Craig will be determined to oust Allan and it’s brilliant for me. I wish I had two players in every position who are of that quality.”
Gordon moved to the Barclays Premier League nearly four years ago when Sunderland paid Hearts £9m for him. Levein said similar interest in McGregor was inevitable. “Allan is improving and is at a level where people will talk about him. When you are playing at the same level every week -- and Allan is an eight out of 10 every week -- that is the level I look for. Allan is achieving that and somebody at some point will come in and make an offer.”
McGregor should win his 12th and 13th caps against Wales and the Republic of Ireland in next week’s Carling Nations Cup double-header in Dublin. A handful among the 24 named in the squad yesterday will be hoping for their first. Joining uncapped players Matt Gilks, Grant Hanley and Iain Turner were a couple who had not previously been called up: Celtic’s James Forrest and Norwich City right-back Russell Martin.
Paul Lambert, the Norwich manager, had flagged up the fact Russell’s father was born in Kilmarnock and consequently the defender was eligible. “He’s a technically very good player, decent size, decent pace, and he’s a good age, 25,” said Levein. “And he’s now getting a move into the Premiership so that’s another major plus.”
Alan Hutton and Mark Wilson are right-backs ahead of Martin in the queue, although both are currently injured, and either Steven Whittaker or Phil Bardsley is more likely to be picked next week. Levein explained all of that to Martin and was impressed that it did nothing to dim his desire to be involved next week.
“He’s flown back and shortened his holiday. He was over in the States with the lads so it’s encouraging that he’s dead keen to get back here and get involved. We’re still waiting for the paperwork to be finalised but I wanted him involved, I wanted him in the squad, I wanted his name in the papers so he could see he was part of it.”
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