'I’m not going to lie': Rangers' Robby McCrorie opens up on lack of first-team football

Goalkeeper was given rare start against Dumbarton and says he will keep working hard at Ibrox

Robby McCrorie got his first Rangers start of the season against Dumbarton on Saturday and admits he wants more action.

The 25-year-old goalkeeper has played second fiddle to Jack Butland this season but was given his chance by Philippe Clement in the Scottish Gas Scottish Cup fourth-round tie at a wet and wild Dumbarton stadium. McCrorie, whose last start before this weekend was away to St Mirren in May 2023, made a good save in the first half from Michael Ruth but in the end the cinch Premiership side ran out easy 4-1 winners. Goals from John Lundstram, Cyriel Dessers, skipper James Tavernier – from the spot – and substitute Scott Wright rendered Matthew Shiels’ goal a consolation for Stevie Farrell’s League Two side.

McCrorie, who has had loan spells at Berwick Rangers, Morton, Queen of the South and Livingston, told Rangers’ YouTube channel: “It feels like a long time. Obviously I want to be playing a lot more than I am. I just like the feeling that you’ve contributed, being a part of it, just playing 90 minutes.

Robby McCrorie makes a save to deny Michael Ruth during Rangers' 4-1 win over Dumbarton.

“It’s just something I always want to do. I think everybody is the same, that’s all you want to do in football, play games so I just make sure I’m ready for whenever I’m called upon. I’m not going to lie, I don’t enjoy not playing. I do want to be playing every week but you can’t go in a huff, you do need to be ready all the time. So I take a lot of pride in working hard every day, giving everything in training because I think when you do that and you come into games, you’re more comfortable and you’re ready for it.”

Rangers return to cinch Premiership duty against Hibs at Easter Road on Wednesday night. The Light Blues, who had a January training camp in Spain, are eight points behind league leaders Celtic but have two games in hand. McCrorie said: “The last couple of weeks we’ve got in a lot of training but it is to set us up for the next few months. It will be relentless, it will be non-stop, there will be games every three days again and there is a lot to look forward to.”