Rangers have brought Steven Davis back to Ibrox this month.
Northern Ireland boss Michael O’Neill has told the Belfast Telegraph that he thinks Steven Davis has made a ‘good move’ in signing for Rangers this month.
Rangers went into the January transfer window having beaten Old Firm rivals Celtic 1-0 at Ibrox, meaning they sit level on points with the Bhoys at the top of the Scottish Premiership table.
The Gers have now attempted to seize their opportunity, as they have brought in two vastly experienced performers from the Premier League this month.
The big headline-maker has been Jermain Defoe’s loan move from Bournemouth to Rangers, but the Gers also brought midfielder Davis back to the club from Southampton.
Davis, 34, first joined Rangers on loan from Fulham back in 2008, and made his move permanent shortly after, before leaving for Southampton in 2012.
The veteran midfielder has racked up more than 200 appearances for the Saints but was clearly down the pecking order under new boss Ralph Hasenhuttl, who allowed Davis to go.
The Northern Ireland international has penned a loan deal until the end of the season, and Rangers will hope that he can bring them the Scottish Premiership title before making the move permanent.
Now, Davis’s international boss O’Neill believes that the midfielder really could help Rangers win the title, as his experience will be key – and added that it’s a ‘good move’ for Davis at this stage in his career, making an emotional switch despite interest from other clubs.
“I think he’s got every chance of doing that,” said O’Neill when asked if Davis could bring the title to Ibrox. “He has leadership qualities, he has proven that in the past when he’s been at Rangers and he’s obviously proven that when he has captained us at Northern Ireland. He’s an immensely experienced player and one of Steven’s biggest qualities is he brings the best out in others. I think Steven Gerrard has recognised that. Rangers, in a lot of areas, are a little bit inexperienced. They’ve added experience with Steven, Jermain Defoe and Gareth McAuley there already. I think he (Steven Davis) could be a key player between now and the end of the season.”
“It’s a good move for Steven because it’s a club that’s very close to his heart obviously. It’s important for him to go somewhere where he’s in with a chance of winning something. There were other clubs interested but at this stage of his career, I think this is the right move for him. Davo is such an important player for us. He’s 34 but he still has, for me, at least a couple of years left for him and I think it’s a great move for him,” hea dded.
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