THE noise has not come as a surprise to Jon McLaughlin. As conversations continue around him, he remains focused on doing his talking on the park.
The debate over who should start the campaign as first choice keeper at Ibrox permeated the summer but it was always going to be Giovanni van Bronckhorst who had the decisive say.
McLaughlin was the beneficiary of that decision and his latest outing marked another career milestone as Rangers kept their Champions League dreams alive with a 2-2 draw against PSV Eindhoven.
The keeper was powerless to prevent Ruud van Nistelrooy's side scoring twice. Left exposed by those in front of him, McLaughlin had no chance as Ibrahim Sangare and Armando Obispo capitalised on calamitous corner cover from Rangers.
Like in every outing this term, McLaughlin has contributed when called upon and there have been few errors - the opening goal away to Union Saint-Gilloise aside - from the man who was an able and reliable deputy during his first two seasons at Ibrox.
With every game, McLaughlin settles further into the role and grows in stature. As a club legend watches on from the bench, he continues to prove his own worth and show why Van Bronckhorst had faith in him ahead of the new campaign.
"Of course," McLaughlin said when asked if he was conscious of some supporters still believing McGregor should be number one. "I don’t think you can get away from that.
"There is a lot said and a lot of noise around it. I suppose that comes with the territory at Rangers.
"It’s not as if we didn’t know that would be the case. Of course all I can do is be the best version of myself, I can’t be somebody else.
"If I am asked to play I give my best for the manager, the team and the club. That’s as far as I can take it.
"I am given the shirt and asked to play and all I can do is give my best. Whatever else is going on around that, however other people see it, is out of my control.
"Of course you feel it. You know it’s there. But I am just doing the best that I can to be worthy of that shirt and that badge every time I play."
The first leg of the play-off showdown with PSV provided further evidence to justify McLaughlin's selection this term as Rangers once again looked to utilise his ability with the ball at his feet as well as his shot-stopping prowess.
The 34-year-old is also a more accomplished keeper when it comes to commanding his area and there will be few more frustrated than him at the manner of the goals that Rangers conceded as PSV capitalised on individual and collective errors.
McLaughlin has done his time and earned his place. McGregor was once the man he had to overhaul, now he is the one he must keep out of the side.
"Maybe more so in my position with the man I am playing ahead of," McLaughlin said of the scrutiny at Rangers. "It’s ramped up even further in the eyes of a lot of people and it’s always going to be a talking point and something that can be used.
"So of course I would be lying if I said that I didn’t know it was there in the background. But, again, I knew it was coming.
"It’s no shock, it’s no surprise and the life of a goalkeeper means you’ve got to have that thick skin.
"You’ve got to have that confidence in yourself and that belief and hope the manager is picking you for good reason. And that you can go out and show that his trust is well founded."
That backing from Van Bronckhorst has never wavered and McLaughlin will, like every other member of the squad, retain the jersey on merit and play each week should he deserve a starting spot.
Comparisons with McGregor are only natural. Will there, though, be a time when that noise level naturally reduces at Ibrox?
McLaughlin said: "Who knows? I have been at this club two years now, I have played quite a number of games.
"I’m not a debutant, I have tried to apply myself the same way every single time I have played for this club. And, again, I can’t do a lot about what people out there say.
"People can have their opinions, people can have their conversations and they are free to do that.
"It’s out of my control. The only thing I can do is give my best every single time.
"Every time you are trying to make sure you can do what you can to help the team. You are playing against a very good side that are going to have opportunities.
"And we are just disappointed in the end that it has come down to a couple of set pieces otherwise we might have had a better result. But we remain confident going into that second leg.’’
A tie that was too tough to call before a ball was kicked at Ibrox remains in the balance after a competitive and combative 90 minutes that lived up to the expectations on the Champions League stage.
There was an understandable frustration at the final outcome but Van Bronckhorst's side are just one match away from taking the final step and ending Rangers' 12-year absence from the highest echelon of the European game.
McLaughlin said: "That’s it. They have come here and they gave us respect, they played well, applied themselves well at Ibrox and got a good result.
"We need to go and do the same over there. We know how well we have played against other teams in previous years away from home.
"We need to do that again now. But we have certainly seen that we can go toe to toe over 90 minutes. It is all to play for in that second leg."
