Rangers manager Graeme Murty has said that fullback James Tavernier is more than capable of moving to the next level having signed a new three and a half year deal at Ibrox yesterday.
The 26 year old has seen the ink go dry on the contract and Murty did hand him the captain’s armband for the Scottish Cup tie last weekend against Ayr United, and he believes Tavernier is only going to show further improvement in the coming months.
Speaking to the Official Site with his new deal done, Murty explained.
‘I am happy but I was content that it was always going to happen. Tav knows how highly we regard him and I think if you look at the people we have brought in and the movements we are trying to make up the table shows we are in a good place as a club. I think he knows he can get to that next level playing for us, which is good for us and it is a good statement from him that he is happy and content here but also thinks we can elevate his career.’
Murty went on to say about awarding him the armband.
‘He realises he can develop here, stretch himself and get better. We gave him a little bit of responsibility at the weekend making him captain. It is about him now understanding what it takes to get to the next level in his career, not necessarily monetarily or where he plays but in terms of his development and his growth as a player. I think there is more to come from him, I really do and I think that is something which excites him as well, that he is not here to stand still and that he always will be pushed and challenged. That for me looking at a player who wants to do all that is a very thrilling thing as a manager because he realises there is more to come. He can be better and I am thrilled he has decided to do that here.’
Having tipped him for the next level, Murty admitted there are still areas of his game he needs to work on, such as inconsistency, but both defensively and in attack he’s shown what he’s capable of.
‘I just realise what the attributes are for an attacking full-back in this day and age and if I can advise him in any way shape or form then I will. I also look at him and say those are things you`re great at, let`s enhance them and use that as a brilliant weapon but also we need to get some inconsistencies out of his game. He really wants to do it and we have seen a change in his mentality and we have actually seen a change in his maturity.’
Clearly ambition came out when Tavernier spoke himself after concluding the new contract.
‘I was in Jimmy`s kit room and we were having a little bit of a joke and you obviously see all the pictures he`s got of all the squad with the trophies. That`s what I want to be doing at Rangers, I want to be winning trophies, I want to be winning leagues and that`s why I came here. I want to write the next chapter at the club. The squad that we`ve got I`m really excited about. We`ve got good numbers in the squad, we`ve got great quality in the squad and the performances lately have been good. I`m really excited for the second half of this season and the seasons to come.’
Having lifted the Scottish Championship and Scottish Challenge Cup trophies back in 2015/16, the Premiership title is the clear and obvious aim.
‘I want to win the league. If we can go for the Treble I want to win the Treble. I want to aim high and be playing in the Champions League, so this club has got the capability to do that. It`s got the fans behind us all the way, it`s down to the players to push really hard to get to that point.’
