Rangers fans all held a collective breath when captain James Tavernier left the field against Antwerp and they can’t relax quite yet after Steven Gerrard confirmed the skipper would be sent for a scan.
Tav is a hugely influential player for Rangers and his absence is sure to be felt with Steven Gerrard calm about the situation as he spoke the day after the night before.
Rangers will hold a comfortable lead over Royal Antwerp when they come to Ibrox next week but Steven Gerrard also suggested the club’s captain fantastic won’t lead the team out of the stadium’s famous tunnel.
Gerrard revealed Tave is “obviously going to miss the next few games” as the club nervously await the outcome of the scan [Rangers].
Rangers forward Kemar Roofe also picked up a calf knock in the stunning 4-3 victory over the Belgians with Ryan Kent and Glen Kamara also carrying knocks.
But it’s the knock to Tavernier which has most Ibrox supporters nervously biting their fingernails ahead of the club’s title run-in.
Gers kid Nathan Patterson, 19, is currently self-isolating after breaching Covid-19 protocols by attending a party with four teammates in a move which is sure to see him on the side-lines for some time to come.
Centre back Leon Balogun came on for James Tavernier and held his own at the right-back berth even if he doesn’t quite have the agility or end product of the Ibrox skipper.
Balogun also spoke to the press this morning and admitted that he is more than willing to step-up in the position should he be called upon whilst Steven Gerrard also claimed Ryan Jack could deputise there.
However, the situation involving Patterson came into focus in the aftermath of the Rangers victory and Tavernier’s injury.
The deputy to the skipper and handed a new contract until 2024 only last month, this would’ve been the Scotland youth international’s chance to shine.
Instead, he’d have been watching last night’s victory with a heavy heart knowing that he’s going to miss out on the opportunity to get a run in the side – and not without good reason.
Rangers fans have lamented the right-back’s situation as Steven Gerrard’s squad are directly impacted by the Covid-19 breach:
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Rangers edged out a frenetic affair in Belgium courtesy of a late Borna Barisic penalty, his second strike from the spot of the half.
Here’s our player ratings for the Gers from the match as they secured an impressive first leg victory with one eye now on the last 16 of the competition.
