Steven Gerrard always wanted to be in the position where he had two quality players for each position on the park, so it’s no coincidence that the first season he got this, we won the league.
One of those players has been Calvin Bassey, last season was his first as a senior footballer and for all that he looked a bit rough around the edges, he offered considerably more than his predecessors did when deputising for Borna Barisic.
Former Gers right-back, Alan Hutton, has been hugely impressed with the 21-year old and after his outstanding displays against Alashkert, Dunfermline and Livingston on the opening day, he feels that there is even more to come from him, if he continues to improve at his current rate, as told to Football Insider:
“Bassey was man of the match, for me, against Dunfermline.
“He was unbelievable on the day. Everything he’s tried came off.
“His crossing, assists, his aggression in his play. It just looked like he has grown in stature as a football player.
“He must be in the forefront of Gerrard’s mind moving forward into big games.
“I thought he was excellent defensively in the first game against Livingston but the crossing and attacking part of it let him down.”
“But I read interviews from after that game and he was saying he wanted to replicate what Tavernier and Barisic bring to this Rangers team – and he’d been practising every day.
“It shows you the mentality he has that he wants to improve and wants to be in that first team. He’s going about it the right way.
“Putting in performances like that is only going to help him.”
The thing that impresses most about the charismatic Bassey is how in such a short space of time, he has improved immeasurably. His passing and crossing in his appearances this season prove that he hsa been working hard at his game – the cross for Ianis Hagi’s goal against Dunfermline was right out of the Barisic top drawer.
Physically he is the perfect specimen, incredibly athletic and has a great attitude to match, getting him for a development fee has been an incredible piece of business by Ross Wilson.
Hopefully he can find a few more gems like the left-back – Charlie McCann is already impressing after moving from Manchester United – he might not be ready to take over from Barisic just yet, but he’s a lot closer than he was last year.