Steven Gerrard hails Allan McGregor as 'irreplaceable' for Rangers as he reveals plan to open talks with goalkeeper over his future at Ibrox

Sitting through the rerun of his team’s 1-1 draw at Hamilton Accies last Sunday would have been painful viewing for Steven Gerrard this week as he analysed Rangers’ worst performance of the season so far.

Rangers goalkeeper Allan McGregor, who celebrated his 39th birthday in January, is out of contract at the end of the season. (Photo by Willie Vass/Pool via Getty Images)

But when it came to Allan McGregor’s brutally critical post-match interview with Sky Sports, the Rangers manager couldn’t hit the rewind button often enough.

“I loved his interview,” said Gerrard with a grin. “I watched it about six or seven times! There were some really important one-liners in it that the rest of the group had to see.”

McGregor’s Man of the Match display at Hamilton spared Rangers from a first league defeat of the campaign, while his scathing assessment of the team’s overall efforts was an expression of the high standards he demands of those around him.

Rangers midfielder Steven Davis, pictured in action against Ronan Hughes of Hamilton Accies, is described as 'a manager's dream' by Steven Gerrard. (Photo by Alan Harvey / SNS Group)

It’s why Gerrard is so keen to retain the 39-year-old’s services beyond the expiry of his current contract this summer. McGregor has yet to make a decision on whether to extend his playing career and Gerrard revealed he will open discussions soon with a player he regards as irreplaceable.

“He is the reason, or one of the big reasons, why we are in the position we are in today,” said Gerrard.

“We all know his age, we all know his situation and in the coming weeks I will be sitting down with Allan and having a real good conversation to see what is next for him.

“He will be a major factor in what happens moving forward. We will respect him. He knows his body, he knows where he’s at, he knows where his hunger levels are.

“He knows how he wants the short, medium and long term to look. He’s at that age now where he will be doing a lot of thinking about what’s next.

“In my position, I hope that’s to still work with Allan moving forward. But I don’t know how the next weeks and months are going to shape his future.

“But we will be very respectful. We will listen to him and make a decision together on the back of that.”

Steven Davis is also out of contract at the end of the season and the 36-year-old midfielder is another player whose influence and ability Gerrard hopes will be at the heart of his team for longer.

“One thing is for sure, you can’t put a price on those players (McGregor and Davis),” added Gerrard.

“I think we’d have to be at Manchester City or Chelsea to replace those players like for like. They are two winners, irreplaceable in terms of the level of performance they have given to the team this year.

“They are both very different, but very similar as well in terms of standards, routine and how they go about it.

“They are two of the most low-maintenance players I’ve ever seen in a dressing room, and that goes for when I played and since I have been a coach. They go about their business very professionally. They come in, they do the work and they set the level for others to follow. They are a manager’s dream, the pair of them.”

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