COMMENTARY
One of the big shocks for Rangers last season was seeing David Bates depart the club for Hamburg on a free transfer and his return to Glasgow had the Ibrox faithful feeling pretty emotional on social media.
The 22-year-old was back at his old stomping ground of a city for Scotland’s Nations League clash with Israel in a winner takes all battle at Hampden Park, the victor netting promotion to League B of the competition.
It was only Bates’ second appearance for his country, having made his debut in the friendly clash against Albania in midweek, and for many Rangers supporters was their first sight of their former powerhouse since his departure from Ibrox.
Seeing him again had some of the Light Blues faithful dreaming of a future with him at the club, insisting it was a mistake they let him go and judging by his performance for his country they are right in their assessment.
He was a solid performer at the back, keeping Israel away from goal while marshalling the rest of the defence, and now he is picking up both regular domestic and international games he is only going to get better.
This is Futbol has gathered a selection of the supporters’ tweets:
Wish we never let Bates go
— Bernsy (@L_Burnsy) November 20, 2018
Wish we had managed to keep hold of Bates, him & Goldson could’ve been a hell of a partnership in the heart of our defence.
— Dave (@dave_n84) November 20, 2018
Still gutted about Bates leaving Rangers, would have fancied him to be playing for us this year most weeks.
— C_22 (@douglas1_craig) November 20, 2018
Come on David Bates and Allan McGregor
— R? (@m_o_w_21) November 20, 2018
Wouldn't have happened without McGregor and Bates starting it all off
— Marion The Cat (@Ross_M_16) November 20, 2018
I'm just waiting for the tartan army to start singing Bates Bates oooh Bates Bates!
— Alison Fraser (@WeeAlisonF) November 20, 2018
What a player David Bates is. ??
— Cambridge Ger (@camtrublue) November 20, 2018
https://twitter.com/gwhendry/status/1064981499831877632