James Tavernier IS the man to lead Rangers as Philippe Clement breaks his own rule for Hearts opener

Despite transfer speculation, Tavernier gets the big Clement okay

Philippe Clement doesn’t do team news ahead of a weekend fixture – but broke his own rule to make it clear James Tavernier will lead his Rangers side out for the season opener against Hearts on Saturday lunchtime.

The Belgian, who has committed himself to Ibrox for the next four years with a contract extension, is social media savvy enough to know despite Tavernier’s astonishing goal and assist ratio, there is a sizeable portion of the support who feel the captain’s time is up and he should move on.

And while it might still happen if the club were to receive an offer impossible to turn down, Clement is in no doubt of the importance Tavernier – starting his 10th season at Ibrox – carries in his quest to carry a title fight to Celtic this term. Having worn the armband himself in a long, successful playing career, Clement knows it can be a burden as well as an honour. But he has watched Tavernier handle the flak and has no doubt he is the man to lead Gers into the new campaign.

He said: “As a captain of Rangers, it (criticism) is part of the job and I have been there and done that in other clubs. Comparable also with Club Brugge, with a passionate fanbase and high expectations that you need to win everything.

“You know in the moments you don’t win everything everyone looks at the captain. That is part of the job. He fits that role well because he can manage that. I have seen in the past a lot of people break in that situation also.”

Tavernier’s form tailed off at the end of last season but Clement said: “He had one disadvantage last season that he played all the games and that is also my responsibility.

“Because of that I think in moments he was not as fresh as he should be and that is something we want to change for this season. The people who have to play that position also need to be fit. I think Tav can make a really strong season and he is really hungry for that.

“Pity he has been out for two weeks in the preparation and missed a bit but I am confident he will have a strong season. He has been very important with his goals and assists.

“Yes, he will start. I will give team selection one time a year so this is the one time I say yes about selection and who is going to start!”

Clement lost a leader when Connor Goldson left for Cyprus but believes he has brought one in as Robin Propper prepares to make his debut if paperwork issues are cleared up in time for the Tynecastle clash.Clement is delighted to have the experienced Dutch defender on board from Twente.

The Rangers boss said: “He is going to bring leadership. He is going to bring coaching qualities on the pitch and a good example to young players of how to be professional. He has really good qualities on the ball also, so he is going to help us to play a good kind of football.

“Having somebody like him is gold for players like Clinton Nsiala, it’s why we also re-signed Leon Balogun. It’s not only to play or be part of on the pitch but also off it.

“It’s important to create a top sport culture where everyone is on their toes every day. With ambition to become better. If we can create this culture it is our job as a staff to give them all the tools to develop every day and challenge them. You need people with the right mentality coming into the building.

“We had a lot of talks with these players before they came in about that, themselves, their past and their experience. But also what Rangers is about because this is a special place to come to. You love it or you hate it. I love it which is why I want to stay.

“The good thing is physically he (Propper) is ready to play because he had a normal preparation with Twente who play at a good level and he played enough games. Of course, he needs to adapt to how we want to play because it’s different to Twente.”

Clement has changed the face of the squad with nine new signings this summer with, he hopes, more to come. One of them, young Moroccan striker Hamza Igamane cost £1.5m and is being hailed as a major star for the future and Clement is adamant the support will have to be patient before clapping eyes on him.

And while Igamane is prepared for action, the Belgian is expecting plenty from the men who are fit enough to lead the line. He added: “Igamane is a young boy with a lot of potential but who never trained at the level we are training now. I can make the fans happy to put him directly in and then he gets injured and they cannot enjoy him the next couple of months. That is not the idea.

“For the moment he is more in an individual programme to make him better and then to get him in the first-team squad training and afterwards to get him playing minutes.

“His mentality is great. For him it is like a new world opening up, every day he is experiencing something new. He is hungry and ambitious to become better and we see a good evolution in the short time he is here.

“Cyriel (Dessers) will kick on what he did last season and I only see him grow and become better. With Danilo, he comes back from six months injury. If we can get him to a normal level from before and get him better he will score his goals.”