Success has not changed Tavernier from the man Nicky met seven years ago
In the six years since Nicky Clark last played for Rangers, much has changed at Ibrox.
However, there is at least one constant – James Tavernier.
The swashbuckling full- back wrote another chapter in his illustrious Light Blues career last Thursday night, with a crucial opening goal that paved the way for a famous victory over RB Leipzig.
Clark previously shared a dressing room with the Rangers captain, and the pair were team- mates in the Scottish Cup Final against Hibs in 2016, a 3- 2 defeat which proved to be his last game for the club.
Since then, the 30- year- old has watched on as Tavernier has gone from strength to strength, becoming a key player for Steven Gerrard, and now Giovanni van Bronckhorst.
However, Clark insists that despite all the success that has come the Englishman’s way, his feet remain firmly fixed to the ground.
Clark, who will be in the United squad for today’s Premiership game at Ibrox, said: “Tav has been brilliant. He has obviously had a bit of stick at times, but you expect that at a club like Rangers.
“It is difficult because the pressure is immense on you week in, week out.
“But he has thrived on it, and has never backed away from it. He has confronted it, and you can see where he is now.
“His numbers, both domestically and in Europe, are frightening for the position he plays.
“Apart from that, he is a really nice guy. From the minute he came into Rangers, he was brilliant.
“I still speak to him now and again, but obviously more so when we are playing against them.
“He is the same person as he was when he first arrived in Glasgow, and full credit to him with the responsibility he has as captain at one of the biggest football clubs in the world.
“He has not changed one bit, which is good to see.”
Prior to joining Rangers in 2015, Tavernier’s CV included multiple loan spells, and although Clark admitted he wasn’t sure the defender was searching for a “home” when he arrived at Ibrox, he certainly found one.
Clark said: “No, I don’t think he was. A few came in, like Martyn Waghorn and Rob Kiernan, and I think they knew one another from down south, which kind of helped them.
“They settled right in but Tav is the only one who is still there.
“He has kicked right on and full credit to him. I think he is just going to get better and better.”
Clark loved his time with Rangers as the club climbed back up the leagues, and he is looking forward to returning today.
He said: “The first couple of years in the lower leagues was weird, as they sold out Ibrox every single week.
“The backing the fans gave the club was incredible.
“So you had that, and then you went to a Brechin or East Fife and there would be scaffolding around the pitch so all the fans could get in.
“Those are great memories, so it is always good to go back.”
Even when Rangers were outside the top tier domestically, Clark was certain that one day they would be competing for European trophies once more.
He added: “Definitely. To get where they are just now is an incredible achievement.”
United are in pole position to secure European football themselves for next season, and Clark acknowledged, if successful, that would cap what has been a memorable campaign for the club and their boss Tam Courts, in what is his first senior management role.
He added: “It would be a great achievement for the manager to get into Europe, especially as he hadn’t managed or coached at this level before.
“The players want it just as badly, so if we can get that, it would be an amazing season for everyone.”