Rangers decision not to play Steven Davis ‘strange’ – Chris Burke
Rangers kept themselves in with a chance in the Europa League despite their 1-0 quarter-final first-leg defeat away to Braga last night.
Abel Ruiz scored the only goal of the game but the Light Blues will fancy their chances in the return leg at Ibrox to overhaul that disadvantage and then some.
Steven Davis was again an unused substitute by Giovanni van Bronckhorst as the 37-year-old continues to be frustrated by a lack of game time with the reigning Scottish champions.
Davis’ former teammate Chris Burke can’t see why the Dutch manager isn’t using him more often given his vast experience in every eventuality.
“It’s a strange one with Davis,” Burke said on the Go Radio Football Show. “He was one of Rangers’ best players last season but he doesn’t seem to get any game time.
“I really, really like Steven Davis and I think that he can still do it. He’s got such a level of experience – especially in big games – and he was a standout recently for his country.
“It’s probably one of the hardest places to play in the Rangers formation because it’s such a strong midfield, but he’s had a few injuries and Covid situations.”
Not enough
Experience alone is not going to be enough to get Davis into van Bronckhorst’s plan right now because he has plenty of it elsewhere on the pitch.
Given the sheer quality in the Rangers midfield right now, you could argue he’s lucky to even be making the bench as Alex Lowry missed out last night through injury.
Joe Aribo is virtually undroppable at the moment and the same could be said of John Lundstram too who has turned his Ibrox career around after a tough start.
Ryan Jack and Glen Kamara have developed a nice connection in the middle of the park too so where the opportunity arises for Davis is anybody’s guess.
van Bronckhorst also has American youngster James Sands who can do a job in a deeper midfield role and the small matter of Aaron Ramsey who has begun to shine when he’s been given the chance in Glasgow.
So while Burke might make a good point when it comes to experience, he still isn’t good enough to break into the side on a regular basis and he needs to accept that.
In other Rangers news, Kenny Miller has called for change in another position after last night’s defeat.