Rangers captain James Tavernier has been ranked ahead of £30m-rated Celtic striker Odsonne Edouard in WhoScored.com‘s list of top Premiership performers.
Tavernier has taken heavy and frequent criticism during his time as a Gers player, particularly since he was handed the captain’s armband.
Yet, so far this season, he’s helped his side to equal a 91-year clean sheet record whilst also contributing three assists from right-back.
That balance of defensive and attacking success has led to him being named by WhoScored.com as the top performer in the Premiership after five games of the 2020/21 campaign.
Tavernier tops the rankings with an average performance rating of 8.01, ahead of Ryan Christie 7.90, Ryan Kent 7.84 and Odsonne Edouard, also 7.84.
Stats and ratings like these aren’t everything but they do give an indication of a player’s consistency and worth to their team, as well as a way to compare players from different clubs.
In this instance, the numbers reflect well on the Gers skipper, who is often scapegoated as soon as things go wrong at Ibrox.
He may have a mistake in him and his crosses may not be pinpoint every time but if he’s ranked ahead of a player who is adored at Parkhead and linked with a £30m move to Premier League club Aston Villa [The Sun], he must be doing something right.
Tavernier will be hoping to stay top of the pile by contributing at both ends of the pitch on Saturday, as Rangers travel to Hamilton for their sixth fixture of the season.
