The Sunday Post (Newcastle)

Davis admits he has never seen anything quite like this in 20 years

- By Brian Fowlie SPORT@SUNDAYPOST.COM

Steven Davis can’t remember an injury list as bad as the current one at Rangers during his 20 years in football.

But the veteran midfielder says they can’t use that as an excuse for indifferen­t form.

The Ibrox men are facing up to being without Connor Goldson and Ryan Jack for several months on the back of their 7-1 mauling by Liverpool.

They’re already missing defenders John Souttar and Filip Helander, with midfielder­s Tom Lawrence and Ianis Hagi also out until 2023.

Davis reckons the quality of player missing is a real challenge, and said: “A number

have been key for us over the period.

“So, thinking back, I can’t really remember a period of time where we’ve been missing

as many significan­t squad members.

“Losing Connor is a huge blow, there’s no getting away from that. He has been a mainstay in the team since he came to the club.

“But it’s something we just have to deal with. We have a lot of quality still within the dressing room.

“We have to make sure we all pull in the right direction, and make sure we continue to get the right run of results.”

While everyone at Rangers is still smarting from the Liverpool thrashing, Davis feels it is important to keep looking forward as they approach today’s league match against Motherwell at Fir Park.

He went on: “Our last couple of results and performanc­es domestical­ly have been very good, so we have to continue that.

“Looking at the game the other night, there’s clearly things we can improve on, and it’s all these little details we have to continue working at on the training field.

“After a heavy defeat, it’s important we get back to winning ways. As a player, you want that next game to come around as quickly as possible.”

Captain James Tavernier has been criticised in some quarters for describing games in the Champions League as a “bonus”.

Davis believes his teammate’s words have been misinterpr­eted.

He said: “We all know the landscape associated with Glasgow, and too much can be read into certain words at certain times, and different contexts can be taken from that.

“I don’t think it was as literal as the words would suggest in terms of what Tav was saying.

“This is the level we have worked hard to get back to, and the level we want to be testing ourselves at.

“But it’s very difficult with the quality that’s there.”

 ?? ?? Steven Davis against Liverpool
Steven Davis against Liverpool

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