Steve Lomas reckons Steven Davis has lots more to offer club and country as he backed his fellow Northern Irishman for a new contract at Rangers.
The 37-year-old midfielder - the most capped footballer in Britain having made 132 appearances - hinted at pulling the curtain down on his international career late last year.
Davis is also out of contract at Ibrox in the summer and hasn’t featured for Gio van Bronckhorst since the 1-1 Europa League draw with Lyon on December 9.
He missed Tuesday’s 1-1 draw at Aberdeen through injury.
But former St Johnstone boss Lomas - capped 45 times for Northern Ireland - reckons there’s more to come from the veteran playmaker including on the international stage.
He said: “I hope Steven doesn’t hang the boots up. His performances for Rangers suggest he has a lot more to offer.
“In England he might struggle with the sheer amount of games but Rangers tend to dominate the ball and it’s a good place for Steven to continue playing.
“There’s no reason why he can’t continue for the next campaign and I hope that he gets a new deal.”
Northern Ireland face two friendlies against Luxembourg and Hungary at the end of March before the Nations League resumes.
Davis said he had no idea if he’d play against for his country after Ian Baraclough’s side brought their unsuccessful World Cup qualifying campaign to a close against Italy in November.
He said: “I need to take into consideration giving young players a chance to come in and show what they can do as well.”
But Lomas reckons he has a crucial role to play on and off the park for his country.
The former Manchester City and West Ham midfielder told the Belfast Telegraph : “We’d love him to stay on as a player but he could be a mentor too.
“He has a lot more to offer either as a player or in a different role.”
