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Much of the talk around Michael Beale’s return to Ibrox has centred around whether he can get a tune out of Alfredo Morelos and Ryan Kent but they’re not the only players who could benefit from a change in manager.

Despite penning a contract extension in October and being involved in recent Scotland squads, Robby McCrorie hasn’t had a sniff of first-team action.

Ironically, the only matches he has been called upon saw Beale take temporary charge after Covid ravaged the squad last year.

The 24-year-old didn’t put a foot wrong as he helped deliver back-to-back clean sheets in hostile matches against Celtic and Armenian outfit Alashkert in a Europa League qualifier but he’s been a spectator ever since.

There was a sense he would be afforded a chance between the sticks in the summer with the assumption that Allan McGregor would be calling time on his career but the 40-year-old signed a contract extension of his own.

Despite former boss, Giovanni van Bronckhorst putting faith in Jon McLaughlin as his No.1 at the start of the campaign, some nervous displays, notably Parkhead have resulted in McGregor being reinstated.

However, both keepers don’t represent the future whereas McCrorie most certainly does. What we have seen of him thus far suggests he deserves a chance but it remains to be seen if the managerial change will prompt some movement in the goalkeeping department.

It may be argued that with the team languishing nine points behind leaders Celtic and with a defensive backline ravished by injuries, the old head of McGregor is the safe pair of hands, pardon the pun, that Rangers require to navigate these choppy waters.

But with January looming, a decision needs to be made on McCrorie’s immediate future. The Ibrox hierarchy think highly enough of him to reward him with a three-year-contract extension so one must assume he will get his chance at some point down the line. At the time of signing, McCrorie said: “I love the club and I think it's like signing the contract is obviously a statement of intent hopefully going forward for myself and the club can be positive.

Rangers Review: (Image: NQ)

“I think it's important to try and assert myself in the team, do everything possible to try and make myself successful and more importantly the club successful. And hopefully, get as many games as possible.

“Obviously, there's not been as much opportunity recently but I think over the period of this contract it's important that when the time comes that I'm ready. And hopefully, the manager puts that faith in me it's up to myself on the pitch.

“At the end of the day, the reason I signed the contract is because I love the club but I want to now really kick on with my career and try and establish myself as being a first-team goalkeeper.”

He may love the club but for the here and now, if he isn’t given a shot under Beale or at least promoted to No.2 then it would surely be advisable to send him out on loan, for his own sake more than anything else.

McCrorie has already spent five spells on loan at clubs at various levels of the game. He has gained experience at Berwick Rangers, Morton, Queen of the South as well as two stints at Livingston so you could argue where else could he go.

The next stage could potentially be an English Championship or League One club or perhaps a move abroad. At the end of the day, he’s at an age where he has to be playing football and if it’s not at Ibrox this season then it has to be elsewhere.

One has to assume this will be McGregor’s final season at Ibrox and McLaughlin is unlikely to reclaim the jersey on a consistent basis so McCrorie must be entrusted to take over or a goalkeeper needs to be acquired in January or the summer.

There will be many who say a new keeper needs to be added to the squad anyway, the question is whether the club are shopping for an undisputed No.1 or someone content with deputising.

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