Lee Hodson claims he could play in same Rangers team as James Tavernier

Follow us on Google Discover

The pair are both vying for the right-back spot in Mark Warburton’s Glasgow Rangers side.

Celtic’s James Forrest in action with Rangers’ Lee Hodson

Lee Hodson has suggested that it is possible for him and James Tavernier to get into the same Rangers team despite both men favouring the same position, the Evening Times reports.

Tavernier was superb for the Gers last season, contributing 15 goals in all competitions, but it was still hardly surprising that Mark Warburton decided to bring Hodson in in the summer as the side boasted little depth across the entire back four.

Rangers’ James Tavernier celebrates

But the Northern Irishman has struggled to make an impact since his arrival at Ibrox, and has made just six appearances for the Light Blues.

But after featuring in the same side as Tavernier in the Scottish League Cup semi-final against Celtic – with the 25-year-old playing further forward to give the defence more support – Hodson has suggested that the pair could form a promising partnership in the future.

“Yeah, possibly,” he said, as reported by the Evening Times, when asked whether the two could play in the same team.

Celtic’s Kieran Tierney in action with Rangers’ Lee Hodson

“Tav is a good full-back who can get forward and defend and has got a great delivery which he has shown already this season.

“He can show his quality at full-back but if he’s higher up the pitch it could work.

“I thought we did okay down the right hand side against Celtic and the more we play then you can only get stronger. We’ll have to see if that happens.”

Rangers’ James Tavernier (L) in action with St Mirren’s Kyle McAllister (R)

With the Gers keeping their opponents at bay until the dying moments, Warburton may take a tremendous amount of confidence from how the pair got on, and may be tempted to adopt a similar strategy in future games which see Rangers perhaps go in as underdogs.

It would certainly not be a negative move to have both players in the same team however. Tavernier proved last season how influential he can be going forward, and if he knows that he has a capable full-back right behind him, he may feel more confident about trying to get into the kind of advanced positions that brought him so much success last term.