Butland backs Davies to handle heat
JACK BUTLAND has backed
Ben Davies to cope with the intensity of the Old Firm match at Parkhead today if the Rangers defender is given the nod to face Celtic and called on his team to summon the spirit of Seville.
Davies made his comeback from injury at half-time in the cinch Premiership match against Kilmarnock at Ibrox last Sunday and promptly scored his first goal for the Glasgow giants to put them 2-1 ahead.
Butland was delighted for his countryman, who had been sidelined for five months, and expressed confidence the centre-half, who could start at Parkhead today if Leon Balogun fails to pass a late fitness test, will build on the performance.
The former Liverpool defender, a £3.5m signing back in 2002, featured at the back for Rangers in their Europa League win over Real Betis in Spain back in December and the goalkeeper has no concerns about his ability to cope with the hostile atmosphere in the East end of Glasgow.
“I was buzzing for him last weekend,” Butland said. “For those who have been regulars in the team it’s been great, but others have had to work hard and bide their time.
“Ben is a fantastic character who has been kept out of the team by some brilliant defenders who have been performing very well. But Ben is a great guy to have around the place. He trains really hard so to see him get his opportunity was a huge boost for all of us.
“He’s one of the good guys and I have every faith in him, there’s no doubts about Ben whatsoever.”
Asked if Rangers had to show the same mental strength as they did against Betis to triumph against Celtic today, Butland said: “You could say that. We’ve said before about being written off. It’s happened to us many times before this season and we have proved people wrong.
“We are not fearful, we are confident with what we have in the building. We know there’s been opportunities there.”