Step up and keep playing
breathing down their necks for a starting place. Skipper James Tavernier and Borna Barisic have been in sizzling form and key to the Light Blues early-season success as they look to continue their unbeaten run today at Rugby Park.
Tavernier has bagged nine goals and Barisic made it seven assists with another superb delivery for Alfredo Morelos’ winner against Lech Poznan in the Europa League on Thursday.
But while the defensive duo have been in top form, Gerrard insists they can’t take their places in the starting XI for granted with kid Nathan Patterson and Calvin Bassey both pushing for a place.
Teenager Patterson has made fou r top- team appearances and Bassey has impressed in his seven outings since joining for a modest compensation fee from Leicester City.
And ahead of the trip down the M77 to Ayrshire that could see Gers go nine points clear at the top of the table, Gerrard said: “Both James and Borna know they have a challenge for their positions which is good for us.
“It’s interesting to watch Borna and James because they ’ ve now got big competition for places. I wouldn’t think twice about putting Nathan in to start a game the way he’s looking and training.
“And Calvin has already proved that he’s capable of stepping in as well. But when Borna is in the right place from a mental point of view, he’s capable of a performance that he gave on Thursday night which is a really high level.
“That’s the reason why he’s named and picked as the best left-back in Croatia. When he gets into the final third, he’s got incredible quality. His delivery is exceptional. His numbers for a full- back alongside James are really admirable for that position.”
Gerrard hopes striker More lo scan use his recordequalling Euro strike, drawing level with legend Ally McCoist on 21 goals in continental competition, to put his early- season upheaval behind him.
Gerrard has taken the Colombian out of the side at times and said: “We felt it was the right time to take him out of the eleven for a couple of games to freshen him up.
“It did on Thursday night but now we need him to build on that 30 minutes and try to get him back to his best form.
“He’d played a lot of football, he’s been away travelling to Colombia. He’s recently had his family move back over. He handled a lot of speculation around his future.
“It’s important we try to keep everyone fresh and hungry. It’s my job when I see players having a bit of a dip or if they look tired to try to freshen them up and take them out of the firing line for a while.”
Meanwhile, Gerrard refused to be drawn on the SPFL asking for clubs’ views on handing them the power to void this season if the Covid-19 pandemic curtails the campaign.
Gerrard has previously called for clarity and fairness from the SPFL in their attempt to come up with a contingency plan.
He said :“Nothing surprises me in football. I’ve not seen the questionnaire and don’t know what’s on the agenda. I’ ll not get involved in it.”