Former Newcastle United right-back James Tavernier scored two key goals for Rangers as they drew 2-2 with Boruissa Dortmund (6-4 on aggregate).
The Scottish side equalised through a Tavernier penalty to make it 1-1. By half-time, however, the score was 2-1 to Dortmund. In the 56th minute, the full-back put some fans at ease by capitalising on a loose ball and slotting it home to make it 2-2.
The now 30-year-old has found a lot of success in Scotland, making over 200 appearances for Rangers and has won a league title. He left Newcastle to join Wigan. After a loan spell at Bristol City, he was signed by Rangers.
They now have Trippier, but at one point Newcastle may have regretted letting Tavernier go
The Magpies’ don’t have much of a track record of producing young talent. They’re either not quite good enough, or let go and meet their potential elsewhere.
In the case of Tavernier, it’s definitely the latter. The right-back was not given many opportunities on Tyneside mostly spells out on loan. He only made a few sporadic appearances for Newcastle.
But now he’s really established himself as one of the top players at Rangers, he’s won a few trophies and played in Europe. For a few years, the Toon may have regretted letting him go.
For many years the club has been lacking a quality right-back until very recently. Had he been given some opportunities with the club he could’ve been a consistent starter.
But maybe the move away was what Tavernier needed. Perhaps the move away from Tyneside was what he needed to kickstart his footballing career.
However, the club now has Kieran Trippier who is currently injured. The England international is the best footballer at the club when fit, so now the Magpies have a quality right-back at their disposal.
Rangers’ big win at Ibrox really shows how far Tavernier has come since his Newcastle days. He’s grown and matured as a player, making him one of the more experienced players in the dressing room.
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