The pain and hurt of Young Ross McCrorie
REFILE - CORRECTING ID Soccer Football - Scottish Premiership - Celtic v Rangers - Celtic Park, Glasgow, Britain - April 29, 2018 Rangers’ Ross McCrorie reacts after conceding a goal. Action Images via Reuters/Jason Cairnduff
Throughout his teenage years Ross McCrorie was forever being told how wonderful he was, the blue-eyed boy of the Ibrox Tribute Act.
When Pedro Caixinha gave him his debut in a League Cup tie against Partick Thistle the praise was gushing.
His desperate manager claimed that he was the future of Scottish football, the greatest centre-half ever produced.
Within a month he had his first defeat from Celtic, later that season he was sent off at Hampden in a Scottish Cup semi-final, it has been downhill ever since. A fortnight later he was part of the Graeme Murty side that folded 5-0 at Celtic Park as another title party got under way.
Ross McCrorie shows Rangers allegiances as eagle-eyed fans spot what Aberdeen star did during Celtic guard of honour ?
? https://t.co/4K5meVRTlF pic.twitter.com/L7i9rGMznR
— Football Scotland ????????? (@Football_Scot) May 27, 2023
A stint in League One on loan at Portsmouth was a reality check, on return he was sent to Aberdeen on loan with a £300,000 deal in place which over-valued his ability.
At the start of this season he watched Celtic unfurl the SPFL flag, today he didn’t even have the decency to clap the Champions onto the pitch in his farewell to Scottish football- without getting near a winners medal.
Bristol City are expected to be his next port of call, a loan spell to Hearts followed by a permanent move to Tynecastle seems inevitable for Young McCrorie.