James Tavernier receives a three-word message from Nico Raskin following Rangers’ victory against St Johnstone.

Nico Raskin sent a message to James Tavernier following Rangers’ 1-0 win against St Johnstone on Sunday.

The Light Blues’ captain played a vital role as the Gers claimed all three points at McDiarmid Park, not by getting on the scoresheet, but by pressuring Jason Holt into netting an own goal.

Raskin was also a standout performer on 1 December as Philippe Clement’s claimed their eighth victory of the Scottish Premiership campaign, closing the gap on Aberdeen to seven points.

Reacting to the right-back’s Instagram post [1 December], Rasking wrote: “The main man,” with a blue heart emoji.

James Tavernier impresses in Rangers win v St Johnstone

The right-back has been heavily criticised ever since the summer transfer window, with many fans wanting the player to secure an Ibrox exit.

He had multiple chances to find an exit and now supporters are becoming frustrated by his drop in form.

At 33 years of age, Tavernier is still standing strong in the Scottish Premiership but has been dropped from the starting XI by Clement on several occasions this term.

However, with Neraysho Kasanwirjo now sidelined for months and Dujon Sterling struggling to stay fit, the manager really has no other option but to reinstate him to the right-back spot.

With 126 goals and 133 assists to his name since arriving at Ibrox in 2015, he has been a priceless member of the squad and continues to show his worth in small bursts.

He will have been rather upset not to have gotten on the scoresheet once again on Sunday, with Holt getting ahead of him to divert Ianis Hagi’s cross into the Saints net, but he put the pressure on.

The free-scoring defender also had a free-kick well saved by Joshua Rae so it could have been an even better afternoon for the veteran. It just wasn’t to be.