Barry Ferguson has urged Michael Beale to have a think about keeping Allan McGregor's Rangers career going for at least another season - as Nicolas Raskin's place on the Hampden bench leaves him surprised.
Goalkeeper McGregor started in Sunday's League Cup final defeat to Celtic at the age of 41, nine months on from a sub appearance in the Scottish Cup equivalent, which many had down as a goodbye to the game. But he's continued as the Ibrox number one this term and debate has continued on when he will eventually decide to call it a day.
Former Rangers captain Ferguson would like to see his old teammate stick about for another year, with areas like the forward department seen as more pressing for recruitment this summer. The Record Sport columnist told Go Radio: "I watched the game and Allan McGregor looks sharp to me. I know he is 41 but the problem you have with goalkeepers is that the two hardest positions to fill are a keeper and a number nine.
"They cost quite a fair bit of money, now if Rangers have a fair bit of money which I don't think they have, they need to concentrate on putting it in one position. You have a guy who I think can go on another 12 months.
"He is solid reliable and a top class goalkeeper, that is what Alan McGregor is. I don't see any signs of Greegsy getting any slower. I have saw a few interviews where he has said he is taking it one game at a time. But if I am Michael Beale, I am sitting down with Allan McGregor just now and trying to find out where his mind is.
"Ultimately it will come down to whether Allan wants too retire or play on. For me, I think he still has a good season left in him. I do think he will need to spend a few pounds, I think he knows there's work needing down to the squad. There will be a set budget and it's in the forward areas I feel Rangers need to concentrate on."
One other call that peaked Ferguson's interest was the decision to bench new signing Raskin. The Belgian impressed when brought into Beale's midfield and the club hero wonders whether the boss will have Hampden regret about his decision.
He added: "By watching Raskin over the last couple of weeks, certainly last week against Livingston, I thought he was a stick-on to play. I'm not disappointed.
"If you look at the four that could play in that holding two - Lundstram, Raskin, Jack or Kamara - I would have been happy with any of them. But I think with his performance last week, it is the type of player that Rangers have been needing so I was surprised.
"Maybe Michael Beale will be looking back and maybe that was a mistake that he made. There's no excuses, the better team won at the end of the day."
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