League trophy has been gift-wrapped before Christmas

THEY call him the Blue Cafu. But the numbers James Tavernier is producing this season would be the envy of the legendary Brazilian right-back. The Rangers captain notched another goal and two assists in yesterday’s 4-0 demolition of Ross County in Dingwall. He’s the top scorer in the Premiership this season with ten goals. He also sits top of the table in terms of assists with seven. When you extend it to all competitions, Tavernier (right) has 16 goals and 11 assists so far this term. Those numbers are absolutely incredible for a right-back. His transformation has been remarkable when you consider where he was before lockdown and those ill-advised comments in the club programme prior to the home defeat to Hamilton. He was badly out of form and a large section of the fans wanted the club to move him on. Or, at the very least, they wanted Steven Gerrard to strip him of the captaincy. They didn’t deem him suitable to be officer material. He wasn’t worthy of the armband. Well, just look at him now. He’s a player totally reborn and rejuvenated. He’s gone from almost being out the door at Ibrox to now being the best player in Scotland. He’s surely out in front just now in the race to be Player of the Year. Tavernier deserves enormous credit for the way he’s turned his career around at Rangers. His rebirth embodies that of Rangers as a whole this season. They looked a broken team back in March prior to lockdown and Tavernier looked a broken man as captain. He’s now odds-on to end a decade of misery as the captain who brings the league trophy back to Ibrox. From a potential outcast, he’s now on the brink of becoming a club legend.