Ian Durrant says Rangers have a ready-made captain to replace James Tavernier

Ian Durrant reckons Rangers have a ready-made captain ready to replace James Tavernier.

Gers could be on the lookout for a new skipper in the coming months with Tavernier's future at Ibrox up in the air. The 33-year-old defender has been a virtual ever-present since joining from Wigan in 2015 but has seen his game time reduced this season under Philippe Clement.

Jack Butland has been handed the armband in Tavernier's absence but club legend Durrant believes John Souttar is the obvious candidate for the role. He said: "Big Souttar's been absolutely immense these last ten days. He looks like he could be a leader.

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"If James Tavernier was to come out of the team, the manager could now go to Souttar or Jack Butland. Souttar is now an experienced boy for the captaincy.

"If things are getting tough, he'll be one of the ones you look to have in the trenches with you. He's stood up and he's been absolutely immense for Scotland. I just hope he now carries on and is immense for Rangers."

Souttar appears to have put his years of injury hell behind him by becoming a colossal figure for both Rangers and Scotland. The ex-Hearts stopper missed out on a place at the Euros but has won back his place in Steve Clarke's squad, even assisting Andy Robertson's last-gasp winner in Poland with a pinpoint cross.

Durrant added: "You used to hear about Souttar, about how it was always stop-start with him, about how he had these bad Achilles injuries. But I watched him against Portugal and then watched him for Rangers, so hopefully he can stay fit and keep it going."