James Tavernier’s Rangers form should earn England recognition as Ibrox old boy makes Kyle Walker comparison
Tavernier #Tavernier
When Michael Ball watches James Tavernier in action for Rangers it reminds him of England superstar Kyle Walker.
And he’s convinced that if Steven Gerrard made a call to Gareth Southgate, the Three Lions boss would head for Ibrox to see what all the fuss is about.
But even if the Rangers captain didn’t have a multi-million pound plethora of right-backs in front of him –such as Liverpool’s Trent Alexander-Arnold, Chelsea’s Reece James and Atletico Madrid’s Kieran Trippier – Ball doubts he’d get a call-up.
He knows from experience how difficult it is to impress anyone in England while plying your trade north of the border.
At 29, Tavernier is unlikely to get a cap,
irrespective of his incredible form with Gerrard’s side.
But full-back Ball – who got his only England cap BEFORE joining Gers in 2001 – says people down south should be taking note.
Tavernier’s ridiculous output figures this
season already stand at 10 goals and seven assists in the league alone.
His displays are worthy of recognition but Ball says the fact Tav doesn’t get a look-in for England will help Rangers’ quest for the league title.
Ball told MailSport: “There are people in
England who know football and what Tav is doing.
“But then you get the lazy ones who say: ‘Yeah but it’s only in Scotland.’
“And because Rangers went through a tough time, people probably don’t recognise it as much. It will always be thrown at him: ‘Can he do it down south?’
“There’s no question he could do it down here.
“If you look at Walker they’re very similar – he’s got that speed to get forward and the ability as well.
“But he might never get that opportunity.
“And he’s Rangers captain, so you don’t want to be going anywhere.
“He’s now the heartbeat of that club so should want to stay there and be successful.
“As an English player in Scotland, you need to do SO much just to get recognised down here. I know that from experience.
“I got one England cap before joining Rangers. Then I was injured at Ibrox and out for two years so drifted out of the England mindset.
“When I got back fit it was in my thoughts to get back in to the national set-up. But when Ashley Cole popped up, it was always going to be difficult.
“I got Player of the Month in my first few weeks back for Rangers. Down in England, I’d have probably got a call-up for that.
“But because I was in Scotland I’d have had to do it for a much longer period of time to get noticed.
“I knew that would be the case but you just hope you can break the mould a bit.
“A good run in the Champions League helps but when you’re just playing domestic football
it’s difficult to get England’s eyes on you again.
“Managers look at a lot of detail now and if Stevie made a call to Gareth about Tav, he’d be daft not to listen and have a look.
“But England have so much strength at right-back now with Alexander-Arnold, James, Trippier – there are five or six who are top quality and worth a lot of money.
“But listen, as long as Tav doesn’t get in, it benefits Rangers.
“It’s great to have your players doing it at international level. But there’s also an element of risk when they go away. Do they come back injured? Are they going to be fresh?
“Rangers don’t have that with Tav. He’s out of the England fold and might never get in. But not being in their plans helps Gers because he’s raring to go in every game.”
As a former full-back himself, Ball is in awe of
Tavernier’s stats for Gers so far this term, both in the
Premiership and Europa League.
Again, cynics will use the caveat of his six converted league penalties when looking at his numbers.
But Ball is having none of that. At Everton he was
penalty taker for a spell so knows that scoring them is far from a given.
He said: “Tav has everything you’d ask for in a footballer.
“And he’s got something you don’t expect from a full-back – goals! That must be a massive blessing for Stevie.
“It’s just great to see a defender get some of the limelight for once.
“People say Tav has scored a lot of penalties – but he’s still got to put them away.
“The longer you take them the more difficult it becomes. But Tav seems to be finding it easier.
“Every keeper will be looking at his past history, seeing what side he has gone for. But he’s taking every penalty like it’s his first.
“When I was at Everton I was the penalty taker for a while and I loved the buzz of it. It’s like you’re a boxer. It’s you versus your opponent – can you
outwit him?
“It’s a test and what’s amazing with Tav is the amount he’s putting away.
“As a fan from the outside, every time I see him step up now, you say: ‘Tav’s on it – it’s a goal.’
“And when you think back to the League Cup final against Celtic last
year, when Morelos missed, you do wonder what if Tav had stepped up to take it?”
Ball won a title and League Cup with Rangers in 2005 before moving on to PSV in Holland.
And he says if Tavernier gets his hands on silverware this season, given what he’s gone through to get there, fans will see him as a club great.
He said: “Rangers are on the way back now and he has been there for the journey. If Tav can go on to lift
trophies as captain this season, it would secure his legendary status.
“When you consider the amount of setbacks he’s had – not many players survive and go on to be successful.
“It’s not done and dusted yet but it’s getting close now. Rangers’ rise back to the top of Scottish football is almost there and Tav has been pivotal.
“If it turns out rosy at the end of the season, Tav will have to be taken seriously when it comes to the club’s Hall of Fame.
“He’s been there for all the downs and stuck it out.
“Of course, loyalty works both ways and the club have shown faith in him.
“But he has wanted to stay and to get rewarded for that is the best thing. It would be a
fantastic achievement.”