ROSS McCRORIE has revealed that his Rangers career almost ended before it began. 

The Gers youngster suffered a fractured hand as a schoolboy on the books at Ibrox and admits that he struggled to recover from the set-back. 

With his form suffering and pressure to win a new deal mounting, a tearful McCrorie told his mother, Sharon, that he wanted to quit the Glasgow giants. 

However, he was convinced to persist in the academy ranks and, after securing that extended contract, has not looked backed. 

McCrorie, 22, has racked up 54 senior appearances for Rangers after making his debut in September 2017 and captained Scotland at under-21 level.  

But he recalled: “When I was playing under-12s football I broke my hand during a game against Celtic. 

“I had the cast on and couldn’t play, so I ended up being out for a really long time. Then when I did come back, I just wasn’t the same. I was so young at the time and had never experienced a bad injury. 

“The coach at the time, Alan Kernaghan, took me to the side and basically told me - although not in so many words - that I had a few more weeks to decide whether I would get another contract. 

“My mum was driving me home that night and I basically broke down and said ‘I don’t want to play’. It was the pressure of playing for Rangers, even at that young age. 

“I told my mum that I didn’t want to do it any more and I’d rather be back playing with my pals - but she convinced me to stick at it and I’ll always be thankful for that pep talk. 

“I got my contract and in the following season I had a mindset of ‘go out, do the best I can, and not hold back’. That’s when I kicked on through the youth ranks.” 

Of McCrorie’s appearances for the Light Blues to date, his shock outing as a GOALKEEPER is the one which will live long in the memory.

He endured a nerve-shredding five minutes between the sticks against Hibs in May 2019 when Allan McGregor was sent off and the Gers had used all their substitutes. 

And McCrorie admits that the only reason he got the nod to replace him from boss Steven Gerrard was because his twin brother, Robby - now on loan at Livingston - is a keeper. 

He continued: "I had come off the bench earlier, and the game was nearly done - two minutes to go - and we had no more subs left. 

“The boys were all huddled in the middle of the pitch with no idea what was going on or who would be going in nets. 

“Then Daniel Candeias runs over and says ‘Ross, Ross, the gaffer says you’ve to go in’. 

"It was only because my brother’s a keeper!

“I thought ‘oh my God, no chance!’ I turned to Jacko [Ryan Jack] and said ‘I’m not doing it, I can’t.’ 

“He took the top and was ready to put it on but the more I thought about it, I just did it. Thankfully it was only a couple of minutes!” 

While McCrorie is unlikely to ever shine as a goalkeeper again, that does serve to underline his impressive versatility and willingness to do a job in whatever role is needed. 

He was a centre-back for Scotland, played in defence and midfield for Rangers and spent this season impressing as a right-back during a successful loan stint with Portsmouth. 

Speaking to respected sports psychology expert Don MacNaughton, he is adamant he would never complain about being asked to adapt to an unfamiliar role. 

McCrorie, whose Rangers deal expires at the end of the season, continued: “You have got to respect the manager’s decision. 

“You are being paid to play football, the best job in the world, and it doesn’t matter what position you are playing. 

“Go out and do your best, especially when you are at a club like Rangers. I’d do anything to play there.”