BBC Sportsound pundit Tam McManus was left drooling over the performance of right-back James Tavernier as Rangers won 3-1 against Kilmarnock on Sunday.
Steven Gerrard’s side set up a Betfred Cup quarter-final clash with Ayr United after seeing off Killie courtesy of a hat-trick by star striker Alfredo Morelos.
However it was the performance of Tavernier who had ex-Hibernian man McManus raving after the game as the 27-year-old assisted all three of Morelos’ strikes and constantly ran the home side’s defence ragged.
“Tavernier that is absolute top class. On a plate. Brilliant,” said McManus on his personal Twitter account after one of Tavernier’s assists.
He then added the right-back is a “terrific footballer”.
https://twitter.com/The_Tman10/status/1031164365905514497
https://twitter.com/The_Tman10/status/1031167071118340096
OPINION
Tavernier was outstanding for Rangers at Rugby Park and fans must be so glad that West Brom’s bid for him earlier in the summer was kicked into touch by Gerrard. He is easily the best right-back in Scottish football. Obviously Celtic fans will argue that Mikael Lustig and Cristian Gamboa are better, but that is out of sheer bias. Tavernier is streaks ahead of both of them. The 27-year-old scores goals and sets up assists on a regular basis and would probably do well in the Premier League or with a top Championship team if he was to ever move south of the border. For now though, Gers fans should be counting their blessings that he is theirs and should forgive him for the odd shaky defensive display as his abilities at the other end of the pitch are unparalleled. Next up for Rangers is Ufa in the Europa League and Tavernier must be on the top of his game for that encounter.