Recent talk about Steven Davis’s absence and importance to the Rangers squad has centred around the veteran midfielder’s lack of action since Giovanni van Bronckhorst took over and his continued availability for Northern Ireland.
The 37-year old was outstanding last season in winning the Scottish Premiership title and was many observer’s player of the year, it was hard to argue against these claims even if you did have your own personal favourite, such was his influence.
This season though, for whatever reason, he hasn’t looked himself. When there was a change of manager and system, he didn’t look comfortable playing as part of a two in midfield rather than a three as had been previously utilised.
Now, he finds himself behind Ryan Jack, John Lundstram, Glen Kamara, James Sands and – probably – Charlie McCann for one of the two places in the starting XI, although a recent injury has presented him from being able to make any sort of impact.
It might sound harsh but Van Bronckhorst has to look to the future now, as Sands and McCann showed against Dundee, we have to be able to trust these players despite their relative inexperience and young years plus, Davis just doesn’t suit the template of the type of player that the manager likes to deploy in that position.
What would you rather win?
Scottish Premiership title
Europa League
Jack, Lundstram, Sands and Kamara can all drop into defence to form a back three if required, Davis could maybe play as a sweeper but he would need to do the other side of the job and he just doesn’t have the physicality of his team-mates.
Davis is a British football icon and 55 should be remembered as the highlight of his career, playing so many games throughout such an important season and maintaining such an incredible level of consistency, it would be nice to see him back in a Light Blue shirt but I just can’t see sentiment being at the forefront of Gio’s thinking when every minute of every game is so crucial.