Goldson says Bassey can hit Premier League level
CONNOR GOLDSON has backed Calvin Bassey to become a Premier League star after insisting the defender has the ‘world at his feet’ following a terrific campaign at Ibrox.
Bassey was part of the squad that clinched the Premiership title under Steven Gerrard’s guidance last term as his first campaign with Rangers ended in medal success.
Now the Nigerian internationalist could become a Europa League and Scottish Cup winner in the coming weeks as the champions set their sights on a dream double.
Boss Giovanni van Bronckhorst has utilised Bassey at left-back and centre-back in recent months and Goldson has been impressed with his rise to prominence throughout an eye-catching season.
Goldson said: “He has got the world at his feet. I really believe he can go on and be whatever he wants to be.
“The pace, the strength and being left-footed, they are attributes you can only dream of and I said it to him before this season that this had to be his breakthrough year.
“He was 21 and is now 22 and hadn’t played as much as other players at that age, so I said that to him at the start of the season and he took it on board.
“He went away for the off-season and worked really hard. He had a private trainer over the summer and came back absolutely flying. When he has got his chance he hasn’t let us down.
“Whether he wants to play at centre-back or left-back, I don’t know. But if Calvin does want to play at centre-back and you look at the top teams, they all want one to be rightfooted and one to be left-footed.
“Take Gabriel at Arsenal – I’m not saying Calvin is as good as him right now but look at the build, the stature, his pace and his left foot is nice. I think Calvin, over time and with experience, can easily get to that level.”