'James Tavernier's time at the club is over' - Keown issues brutal Rangers captain verdict

James Tavernier has reached a “tipping point” in his Rangers career, according to Gary Keown.

The 32-year-old Gers captain has faced huge criticism this season and was hooked off by manager Philippe Clement just after the hour-mark in his side’s 4-1 defeat to Lyon in the Europa League on Thursday.

Neraysho Kasanwirjo replaced Tavernier at right-back and Scottish Daily Mail columnist Keown believes it’s ripe time for the ex-Newcastle defender to leave Ibrox for good.

“Captain James Tavernier’s time at the club is over. He should have left in summer,” said Keown on the Daily Mail website (6 October).

“He gets ripped apart almost every time he faces Daizen Maeda and Celtic now. His second-half removal from the Lyon game for Neraysho Kasanwirjo was long overdue and that moment has to be a tipping point for a guy weeks away from turning 33.

“Kasanwirjo, of course, is a ready-made replacement, but what of Dujon Sterling? He was signed as a right back. On handing him a new long-term deal, Clement spoke of how he would benefit from a more regular run in the team.

“Well, here’s your chance with a 24-year-old, now on increased wages, that you are trying to develop into a sellable asset.”

James Tavernier well past his sell-by date at Rangers

Let’s face it, Tavernier’s poor performances are hardly anything new.

He’s always been a right-winger played at right-back because his defensive abilities pretty much do not exist.

What’s kept him going for so long at Ibrox is that the side has always been good at winning penalties and he’s always been good at scoring them. It would be unfair to dismiss the fact he’s also one of the best modern Scottish football has seen at free-kicks and charging into the box from the right to score.

But aside from his goalscoring and crossing abilities, what else has Tavernier offered?

As Keown alludes to, it’s impossible to think about the right-back having a single good game against Celtic.

More often than not, he’s been run ragged by what are undoubtedly the best attackers in the league outside of Ibrox and on most occasions, he’s been torn to shreds by half-decent attackers in European competition.

How he’s still at Rangers is a mystery. And how he’s never been tried on the wing and a proper right-back who can defend hasn’t been brought in is borderline criminal.

In other Rangers news, Kris Boyd has ripped into Clement after seeing new footage of the Gers boss.

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