McAvennie issues ‘amazing’ Steven Davis claim after Rangers development he ‘can’t believe’
Steven Davis must return to the Rangers starting XI when a new manager is appointed.
That’s according to former Celtic hitman Frank McAvennie, speaking exclusively to Football Insider about where the Gers need to improve.
Davis, 37, has only started nine of the Gers’ 28 games in all competitions this season.
The veteran midfielder was a regular starter under former boss Steven Gerrard and McAvennie insists he must return to this role under whoever replaces Giovanni van Bronckhorst.
“Rangers have to go back to basics,” McAvennie told Football Insider correspondent Ben Wild.
“Giovanni van Bronckhorst was trying too many different things, trying to be clever. It wasn’t working. Keep the ball, play it about.
“You have the boy Davis on the bench who is the master at that. Van Bronckhorst never played him and I don’t get why.
“He played every game under Gerrard and he was absolutely amazing. He controls absolutely everything in the middle of the park.
“You take him out of the team and everyone begins to struggle, that is not a surprise, is it? So he needs to come back in now, calm things down.
“Davis has the experience to sort all of this out. I know he isn’t the youngest but you can’t replace what he offers the team in the middle.
“Honestly, I couldn’t believe he wasn’t playing this season. It made absolutely no sense to me.”
Rangers are close to appointing Michael Beale as their new boss despite being concerned about a growing backlash among supporters about luring him from QPR.
The 42-year-old turned down the chance to manage Wolves earlier this season after the Premier League side sacked Bruno Lage.
In other news, Klopp cited as new Rangers manager claim issued.