The discussion about the future of the Rangers right-back position is one that surfaces every time James Tavernier misses a pass, hits the first man with a cross or Nathan Patterson gets a chance to impress.
With Everton said to have bid £5million for the Scotland international, this debate is under the microscope more than ever with other sides now alerted to his situation and, according to Alan Hutton, speaking to Football Insider, it looks as though Steven Gerrard‘s old club could be looking for a favour:
“We’re looking at a guy with the potential to be very good.
“To be at Rangers for a number of years, to be a Scotland international for a number of years. We’re looking at potential, we’ve seen glimpses of him, I would like to see more.
“I think now where we’re getting to a stage where there’s interest in him from down south, from big clubs. I have heard Liverpool are now sniffing about him as well.
“Steven Gerrard will probably have a big decision to make in the coming months. Is it Tavernier or is it Patterson?
“Can he share the load with Tavernier? We know how good he’s been, he’s the captain, his numbers are excellent. Patterson’s really now starting to push him.
“It’s probably a headache, I was going to say that he doesn’t want, but it’s a good situation to be in.
” I’d love to see him push Tavernier all the way. I think he’s got all the makings of being an excellent full-back for Rangers.
“Two very good full-backs fighting each other for their place.”
Tavernier’s absence against Alashkert was one that didn’t provide as much fear as it would have done previously given how well his deputy coped when the skipper was out with a knee injury at the tail end of last season.
That Patterson has displayed such potential without going out on loan makes him an even more exciting prospect, once he irons out the creases in his game he will only get better, at the same age as Barry Ferguson and Alan Hutton – our two biggest sales from players that graduated from Auchenhowie – there is a case for the 19-year old to be ahead of them in terms of development if not minutes on the park.
It’s no surprise to see clubs like Liverpool keeping an eye on the right-back’s progress, at every challenge – Old Firm debut, Europa League, first Scotland cap, he has taken them all in his stride and looked a natural at every step up.
Like Billy Gilmour, it would be a shame if w sold him before we really got to see what he is capable of, the dream being that as Tavernier gets older, Patterson will take over, however, we all know that football doesn’t always go according to plan – we only need to look at one former Ger who left Rangers for Anfield as a teenager and is now playing his football in MLS.