Mcallister sees solution to selection dilemma

Gary Mcallister says Rangers may not face a selection dilemma over skipper James Tavernier and young pretender Nathan Patterson after hinting Steven Gerrard could squeeze both into his line-up.

Ibrox captain Tavernier is a player of the year candidate, having scored 17 goals from right-back this season.

But the knee injury that has kept him out since February has given 19-yearold Patterson the chance to show his talents.

The youngster has excelled in recent weeks, with calls for him to be included in Steve Clarke’s Scotland squad for Euro 2020 growing by the week.

Having two in-form fullbacks could leave Gerrard with a major headache as he mulls over who to leave out, but Mcallister suggested Gers may rejig their tactics to ensure Patterson, who has played as a right-winger for Scotland Under-21s, can continue his development.

“What a wonderful position for the manager and everyone here at the club to have two outstanding players in the same position,” said Mcallister.

“Could that evolve and could there be a little bit of change there?

“Time will tell.

“The beauty is that we’ve got an outstanding youngster and a player whose numbers are

probably among the best in the world from that area of the pitch.

“As a club we are uberdelighted to have two outstanding players in that area. There are different formations that, you never know, we might be able to get the two of them on the pitch at the same time.”

Gerrard will be hoping Tavernier is ready to make his return to Premiership action as Gers face the first of two back-to-back clashes with St Johnstone this evening.

Patterson and teammates Bongani Zungu and Calvin Bassey are poised to learn the result of their appeals against six-match bans for breaching Covid rules, but they are likely to miss the trip to Perth.

Tavernier was back on the bench against Celtic on Sunday and Mcallister has promised changes will be made to the team which earned a 2-0 Scottish Cup win to set up a quarterfinal with Callum Davidson’s team this Sunday.

“After an Old Firm weekend and a big positive result, we bounce into this week,” he said.

“But when you look at the week ahead, you think it’s just another big one. “It’s the way we like it. “I think we’ll probably freshen up for the league game.

“But over the two games we’ll be strong as we want to continue our form in the league and we want to progress in the cup.”

Nathan Patterson could feature in a rejigged line-up.