Allan McGregor must stay, insists James Beattie

Striker James Beattie has urged Rangers to do everything in their power to retain the services of Allan McGregor after the goalkeeper was linked with Manchester United.

McGregor has been in fine form for the Scottish champions all season, including clean-sheets against United and Bursaspor in the Champions League, and saw his stock rise further in the last week with man-of-the-match performances against both Czech Republic and Spain for Scotland in their Euro 2012 qualifiers.

Sir Alex Ferguson is now reportedly weighing up a move for McGregor, who is contracted to Rangers until 2013, as he seeks a replacement for veteran Edwin van der Sar.

"Allan is a fantastic goalkeeper and he's a great lad as well," said Beattie, who has been impressed by the number one since his summer move from Stoke. "I'm not surprised he is getting interest from top clubs like Manchester United.

"It's very important for us to keep hold of our best players. That's up to the board and Allan himself. If he keeps performing as he is, superbly all the time, he is going to create interest.

"It's up to the club to keep him and for him to keep his head right. He's right up there. His performances in training and in games are fantastic. He is gaining interest and it's well-deserved."

However, Beattie refused to be drawn on comparisons between McGregor's retrospective ban for aiming a kick at Aberdeen's Chris Maguire and what he described as a "cynical" challenge by Hearts' Ian Black, which went unpunished after leaving Rangers' 4million striker Nikica Jelavic sidelined for several months.

He said: "A lot has been made of that but I'm not going to get into a debate about it. That's more of an issue for the hierarchy, I'll just talk about football."

Jelavic had carved out a productive partnership with Kenny Miller before requiring surgery on ankle ligament damage. And, although sympathetic with the Croatian, Beattie hopes his absence will enhance his own chances of game-time. "It's unfortunate for him but it's a good chance for me to get back in the side and establish myself," he said. "It's very unfortunate for him, he was in good form and forged a good partnership with Kenny, and he was taken out most cynically by one of the Hearts players."

Beattie added: "I hadn't played a competitive game since December so I was quite happy when the manager asked if I wanted to start the first game. I said yes and played the first four games and we won. Then, I was only injured for about two weeks but I missed five games, which has been a little bit frustrating. I had a problem with my thigh but it's fine now.Hopefully I'll be training tomorrow and available for Saturday." Walter Smith declined to be drawn on whether he thinks McGregor should replace Craig Gordon between the sticks on a permanent basis for Scotland. But the Rangers manager did describe his goalkeeper as being "exceptional" for both club and country.

He told www.rangers.co.uk: "Allan's performance on Tuesday cemented what the majority of Rangers supporters already think of him. The way he plays speaks for itself. He has been excellent for us over the past few years and he is now getting the opportunity to do things for Scotland on a more regular basis. It was a good game for a goalkeeper to get because he was always going to be asked to do quite a bit during the match. I thought he did that very well.

"It's not for me to say whether Allan should keep his place in the national side and Craig Levein is obviously the person who has to make that choice. I'm just happy Rangers have got a goalkeeper who, in my own mind, I feel is an exceptional one. When they go into the international arena then show that quality against a team such as Spain, you're pleased they are working at your club."

l Scotland international Kevin Thomson is in line for his second comeback of the season after overcoming his latest injury setback.

The Middlesbrough midfielder, who has endured two cruciate knee ligament injuries in his career so far, suffered a broken leg in the second game of the season against Leicester City in mid-August, then could play only seven minutes against Portsmouth two weeks ago.

Thomson - who turned 26 yesterday - is now hopeful of returning to action against Leeds United tomorrow.