Rangers legend Kris Boyd feels Ibrox duo Jack Butland and James Tavernier are certain to be in the conversation for the Scottish Premiership’s Player of the Year award.
Perhaps unsurprisingly given Celtic’s level of dominance – and considering their rivals’ lengthy spell out of the top-flight – only one Rangers star has picked up Scotland’s Player of the Year award since Steven Davis took home the gong over a decade ago.
And that was James Tavernier back in 2021, the obvious pick after captaining Steven Gerrard’s Gers side to Premiership glory. Boyd feels that the rampaging right-back deserves to be part of the conversation again three years on, even if Rangers eventually fall short to their eternal Old Firm rivals.
But Tavernier, who has once again reached double-figures from his full-back role, is not the only member of Philippe Clement’s squad who should be under consideration.
Jack Butland and James Tavernier hailed
“The best (Rangers signing)?,” Boyd muses, speaking to the Scottish Sun. “Well, Jack Butland must be in the Player of the Year argument with Matt O’Riley, Lawrence Shankland, Bojan Miovski and James Tavernier.”
O’Riley has been Celtic’s stand-out performer this term, while Shankland and Miovski – both of whom are reportedly on Rangers’ radar – remain a regular source of goals for Hearts and Aberdeen respectively.
It is not just Butland’s stellar domestic displays which have seen him labelled, by Gers hero Ally McCoist no less, as the club’s ‘best signing in years’. The England international was at his typically inspired best with a string of outstanding first half saves as Rangers picked up an eye-catching 2-2 away draw at Benfica in the Europa League on Thursday.
Two Ibrox faves must be POTY nominees
“(Butland) again showed his class with some fine saves in Lisbon. And he’ll need to be on his toes again at Easter Road,” Boyd adds ahead of Sunday’s Scottish Cup quarter-final with Hibernian.
“The way Butland dealt with those incredible corners from Angel Di Maria was impressive. The goalie was the pick of Gers’ summer transfer business.”
Butland has picked up the most clean sheets in Scotland this term. With only 16 conceded, Rangers also have the league’s best defence by some distance.
