Glasgow Rangers take on Celtic in the Scottish Cup semi-final in a game which will see Bates looking to make his fourth appearance for the Ibrox side.
David Bates’ former Raith Rovers teammate Jason Thomson has jokingly suggested that he is the man to thank for Bates’ emergence, and backed the youngster to succeed if given the chance against Celtic on Sunday, Deadline News reports.
Thomson is Raith’s usual right-back, but was only fit enough for the bench when Rangers visited in February 2016, leaving Bates to have to cope with the threat of Gers winger Barrie McKay.
And having impressed enough in that game to earn a loan move in the summer that was then made permanent, and having since gone on to make a handful of first-team appearances, Thomson has jovially suggested that his old teammate has the 29-year-old to thank.
“He always worked hard and he had a couple of good months with us last season, which I think ultimately triggered his move to Rangers,” he said, as reported by Deadline News.
“We had a game against Rangers at home and he played right-back and did really well. We lost 1-0 but he snuffed out Barrie McKay and obviously impressed people at Rangers.
It was his display against Barrie McKay that seemingly earned the move
“I was out injured for the game, so he’s got me to thank!”
Bates could be in line for the greatest test of his Light Blues career so far if Pedro Caixinha hands him a start in the Scottish Cup semi-final clash with the Hoops at Hampden Park.
And while some of the Ibrox faithful will be nervous if they see his or Myles Beerman’s names on the teamsheet, Thomson has backed the 20-year-old to impress.
Rangers manager Pedro Caixinha
“If he plays, I’m sure he can go and do well. He can handle the big games, I’d have no worries about him going out there against Celtic,” he added.
With Bates failing to get a first-team game under the manager who brought him to Ibrox in the first place, the transfer had started to look a slightly odd move.
And although he is still some way short of being the finished article based on his first few appearances for the club, the fact that Rangers have kept three clean sheets in the games he has featured in so far certainly suggests that he has the potential to establish himself as a mainstay in the Gers side in future.
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