Tavernier offers to play as striker to help Patterson

James Tavernier has joked he is willing to play as a striker in order to help manager Steven Gerrard solve a selection dilemma at Rangers.

The club captain is returning from an injury that kept him out for two months, during which time teenage right-back Nathan Patterson showed that he could excel in the Ibrox first team.

With Tavernier having recently signed a new contract, it means tough competition for one spot in the team next season and Rangers assistant manager Gary McAllister suggested both could be fitted into the same team.

Tavernier joked he could take on a forward role to let Patterson develop in defence and has had ambitions to play at the other end of the pitch.

I’ve always wanted to play up front!” he said. “I keep on saying to the gaffer when we’re doing shooting drills that I’ll play up front.”

The 29-year-old paid tribute to Patterson and said the teenager had reaped the benefits of working hard and taking his chance when it came.

“Nathan’s been a credit to himself,” he said. “He’s been working extremely hard.

“I’ve been very proud to see the progress he’s been developing with this season. I’ve already said he can go all the way.

“But going forward, that’s obviously the gaffer’s decision if he wants to include us both but I’ll definitely be available to play up front.”

Tavernier is expected to start in this weekend’s Scottish Cup quarter-final against St Johnstone and admitted the team’s League Cup exit to St Mirren would be a motivating factor as Rangers chase the double.

“We were disappointed when we got knocked out earlier in the season in the League Cup and it is something we don’t want to repeat,” he said.

“We showed a good performance against Celtic in the last round and you saw the hunger and desire in this team to try and go all the way and win this trophy.”

“Nothing changes, we are Rangers Football Club and we are always going to try and win trophies.