'I don't care' - Ex-Premier League player gushes over Rangers star, issues replacement verdict

Scott Arfield believes that Rangers will not be able to replace James Tavernier’s output from right-back when he does leave the club.

The English full-back was linked with an exit away from Ibrox over the summer but ended up staying put for another season.

Arfield, a former Gers and Premier League player, who’s now plying his trade at Bolton Wanderers, believes the fans will not realise how good Tavernier was until he’s left the club.

He told Football Scotland on 18 September: “He’s in the Hall of Fame now and if you look at the names on that list, it’s not an easy thing to get into with the history of that club, so that speaks for itself.. I don’t think we’ll see a right-back with those numbers again, in terms of assists and goals, but also the durability and the amount of games he plays during a season.

“There is an element that when James does eventually move on, it will be one of those where you never realised what you had until it’s gone because as a right back, I don’t care who’s going to come in, they’ll never get to the standard of the performances James has had through the 10 years he’s been at the club. He is a Rangers legend, and the Hall of Fame proves that. I got to know him personally and professionally and I couldn’t speak higher of him.”

Rangers fans already appreciate what James Tavernier has brought to the club

Arfield’s admiration for Tavernier’s contributions to the Ibrox outfit is well-founded as he’s been a stalwart over the last few years.

Fans are well aware of the 32-year-old’s legacy at Ibrox, from his goal scoring from set-pieces to his leadership as captain, which has been pivotal in securing titles and memorable European nights.

The discussion around the full-back’s replacement isn’t about discrediting his achievements but rather about the natural evolution of football.

No matter how legendary, players are eventually replaced as they only have finite years at the peak of their powers and Tavernier is no longer there.

Rangers supporters understand the uniqueness of Tavernier’s output but also recognise that football is a cycle and new players have to come in.

The challenge lies in finding someone who can fill his shoes in terms of leadership and performance, not in fans realising his worth after he’s gone, as many already hold him in high esteem as a club legend.

In other Rangers news, an SPFL player has issued a verdict on Celtic after what he saw Hamza Igamane do for Gers.

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