MICHAEL BEALE has warned James Tavernier he will have to 'look over his shoulder' following the rise and rise of Ibrox kid Adam Devine.
The 19-year-old made another positive impression on Friday night as he helped Rangers to victory over Ross County and a third successive win under new boss Beale.
Devine has operated out of position at left-back in the wins against Hibernian, Aberdeen and the Staggies and could now keep his shirt against Motherwell on Wednesday night.
The return of Borna Barisic will give Beale a more experienced option on the left side but the Ibrox boss believes Devine can make the berth on the opposite flank his own in time.
Beale said: “Huge credit to Malky because in the time he’s been at this club he likes to play on the front foot.
“He likes to have wide players and I thought they might go for us on the sides with our shape.
“So it was important we gave County something interesting going the other way and I thought Adam did that. It was a really interesting battle down that side.
“He’s a young player who has come into the team unexpectedly and is playing out of position. Physically and mentally he’s been challenged but he’s come up trumps.
“We should be delighted with his form so far. It’s just a start but it is just a start and he has to keep backing it up.
“He’s gone away to Pittodrie, he’s come away here to Dingwall and played in front of a nervous crowd at Hibs but I think he’s done excellent so far.
“I’d like to have a decision to make to be honest as in a few areas we’ve not had a decision to make as we’ve just had to play with what we’ve got.
“But Adam has done himself no harm. I think he’ll jump up 25 per cent if he moves over to his natural position certainly in attacking positions, so maybe the captain has to look over his shoulder.
“That’s what I want. This isn’t about coming back in and being a bit romantic about the group I work with previously, it’s about building a new Rangers and certainly the corner stone of that will be young players."
