Livingston boss David Martindale says he expects on loan Rangers goalie Robby McCrorie to stay at the club for the remainder of the season.
The 22-year-old was dropped in October before being set to regain his place when Max Stryjek had a positive Covid-19 test only to then be placed in self-isolation himself following an outbreak with the Scotland under-21s.
Martindale said: “Would I expect Robby to see out the season here? Yes. I think this is the other side of football that Robby has to deal with if he is going to be a Rangers keeper.
"You have to fight for your jersey every week and the competition is really strong. Robby has been brilliant about the place, he is working hard. It isn’t just injuries or suspensions that can open up a place this season, it is Covid as well.
"I would expect him to be here and fight for his place and keep pushing Max. We have 11 games in 35 days after Ross County so we will need to be extremely lucky if we play the same players.”
He added: "I feel for Robby. Our form wasn’t great at the start of the season. We were giving goals away and they weren’t to do with him. He maybe had a hand in a couple but he was unlucky. As a unit we weren’t defending well.
“We were rectifying it and he hasn’t had the benefit of playing with those boys in front of him.
“Robby was coming back into the team as Max had Covid. He was going to play in the league game as Max hadn’t trained for two weeks but then Robby got caught up in the Scotland stuff. That’s where I feel for him.
"I believe Covid will be around for the next few months and we won’t be vaccinated any time soon. There is a more contagious strain now and we will do our best to keep it out of the club but we would need to be very lucky to keep it out.
"I do think it will open other opportunities for all the players who aren’t in the team right now.”
