By Alan Hutton

16th Sep, 2019 | 7:00pm

Hutton in awe of the Rangers 'Standout' player, claims Gerrard transformed him - Ibrox Exclusive

EXCLUSIVE

Alan Hutton has hailed James Tavernier as the “standout” player at Rangers and insisted he has gone to a new level under Steven Gerrard.

Speaking exclusively to Football Insider assistant editor Russell Edge, the former Light Blues right-back is in no doubt about the calibre of the Ibrox skipper.

Hutton has been blown away by Tavernier’s attacking statistics while also explaining how one of his successors has developed into a much-improved defender.

Tavernier scored his first goal of the season in his side’s 3-1 win over Livingston on Saturday with a free-kick that levelled the scores and provided the platform for a comeback triumph.

“I think he’s been the standout, hasn’t he really?” Hutton told Football Insider. “You talk about Morelos and his 30 goals, which is unbelievable, but I think as a right-back to be producing those numbers is kind of outstanding, you don’t really see it.

“He’s obviously been tagged with the defending thing not being his strongest suit but I think he’s really worked hard on it. You can see that, definitely since Gerrard came in.

“I think he’s been the man to identify that: ‘Yeah, that’s great but you also have to do the other side of it,’ and he has really worked hard on it and become a better player.”

Tavernier’s 12 matches have yielded five assists as well as his goal against Livingston on Saturday.

He has a long way to go to match his remarkable tallies of last season, when his 57 matches yielded 17 goals and 20 assists.

In other Rangers news, it can be REVEALED that the club have got an emphatic answer after approach to sign free agent.