Derek Johnstone names Tavernier as Rangers’ best player this term

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Glasgow Rangers defender James Tavernier has handed the Ibrox club a major boost by signing a new contract.

Derek Johnstone has told the Evening Times that he thought that James Tavernier had been little better than mediocre heading into this season, but believes that the right-back has actually been Rangers’ best player this term.

Tavernier has been excellent this season for the Gers, proving to not only be a brilliant full-back but also really establishing himself as a leader within the squad – which was highlighted by the 26-year-old captaining the Light Blues for their Scottish Cup clash with Ayr at the weekend.

He has handed Rangers a major boost this week by signing a new deal that the club have confirmed is set to keep him at Ibrox until the summer of 2021. And Johnstone has suggested that the defender has earned the fresh terms by stepping up his game during this campaign.

“Since signing on at Rangers, Tavernier, in my opinion, has not been fantastic but he’s not been bad either. He’s perhaps been somewhere above mediocre to be fair; a decent full back but nothing special,” he told the Evening Times.

“It’s changed a bit this season and he looks a different player altogether. I think he’s been exceptional and, arguably, Rangers’s best player.”

Tavernier has definitely been one of Rangers’ best performers this term, but he is arguably not the only player to have stepped up to make the side look a lot more promising this season.

Players such as Wes Foderingham, David Bates, Jason Holt and Josh Windass all seem to have improved since last season, and with a recruitment process that has resulted in the likes of Declan John and Alfredo Morelos quickly becoming key players, and a January window that looks set to be deemed an overwhelming success, it appears that Rangers are putting together a really exciting squad.

And if Graeme Murty can enjoy some luck with injuries in the coming months after seeing a number of important players sidelined recently, Rangers may perhaps have the kind of squad that can make a similar-sized leap to the one that Johnstone believes Tavernier has taken this season.