Rangers fringe player leaves fans eating their words after outperforming senior star
COMMENT
Rangers defender David Bates is one of those players that nobody ever really fancies but never really puts a foot wrong.
The 21-year-old fringe player came off the bench to replace Bruno Alves in Saturday’s Old Firm clash with Celtic and left with the man of the match award from broadcasters Sky – his second of the season after doing similar against Aberdeen.
When Alves went down injured after only 17 minutes of the meeting with Brendan Rodgers’ side there were more than a few groans from Rangers fans at the prospect of the former Raith Rovers defender coming off the bench but – not for the first time this season – he left his critics eating their words.
When Rangers signed the defender on loan from Raith Rovers it left fans scratching their heads.
The Gers have a number of promising young defenders in the club’s Academy and the arrival of the lower league defender didn’t make any sense but every time he’s been called upon in the first-team, the 21-year-old Fifer has impressed.
Bates isn’t one of these modern defenders who like to spray passes and step into midfield; he’s a throwback to the defenders of old who cleared their lines first and foremost.
Despite his less-than-glamorous introduction to senior football in the lower leagues of the SPFL, the 21-year-old has consistently outperformed proven stars such as Bruno Alves.
When the Scottish Premiership returns after its winter break, it might just be Bates name in the Rangers starting XI instead of his more illustrious colleagues.
In other Rangers news, Jim White has detailed a huge development about the Gers’ talks to sign this Premier League forward.
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